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HISTORIC 
PULASKI 



BIRTHPLACE OF THE KU KLUX KLAN 
SCENE OF EXECUTION OF SAM DAVIS 




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Copyright, 1913 

BY 

W. T. Richardson 




R. J. BRUNSON 



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Pulaski: Rich in song and story. 
Pulaski: Hallowed on the page of glory. 
Pulaski: God's blessings rest on thee. 
Pulaski: The garden spot of Tennessee. 

Pulaski: The gift of a princely hand. 
Pulaski: Who gave the flower of her land. 
Pulaski: Sent them forth man after man. 
Pulaski: Mother of the Ku Klux Klan. 

Elizabeth Wilkes Romine, 



PREFATORY. 

In July, 1867, J. P. Abernathy approached me 
in Pulaski and asked me if I would not like to 
join the K. K. K. I told him that I would. He 
appointed a night for me and Carson P. Reed, 
Ruff Workman, and James Dickson to meet him 
at Sharon Church, where he would initiate us. We 
went down into the creek bottom below the church, 
and he organized Den No. 4. That was the fourth 
den of the original K. K. K. that was organized. 
J. Polk Abernathy was Grand Cyclops, and I 
(R. J. Brunson) was elected Secretary. We then 
selected the best men in our district who wished 
to join us, and they were initiated. J. Polk Aber- 
nathy served as Cyclops for twelve months, George 
Newbill for twelve months, and J.'N. Brunson 
for twelve months. 

In July, 1868, I was going on a visit to South 
Carolina, and Gen. George W. Gordon requested 
me to take some of our rituals and organize the 
K. K. K. in South Carolina, which I did. From 
the original head den here at Pulaski, I was the 
sole organizer or starter of the K. K. K. in South 
Carolina. I stayed in South Carolina about three 
months, and several dens were organized during 

(7) 



8 Historic Pulaski. 

the three months that I was there ; then I returned 
home. On July 4 I was in the Pulaski parade men- 
tioned in this book. We were law-abiding citizens, 
and were organized only for the protection of our 
women, children, and homes, and to enforce the 
law and insist on its enforcement. 

After returning home I raided with Den No. 4 
until the disbandment. After the disbandment I 
kept the alphabet, ritual, and regalia ; and in order 
to make this an interesting book and that the 
world may have the truth in regard to the organi- 
zation of the K. K. K., I allow these to be printed. 

R. J. Brunson^. 

April 21, 1913. 



HISTORIC PULASKI, 



THE KU KLUX KLAN: OEIGIN, GROWTH, 
AND DISBANDMENT. 

I. 

Origin. 

There is no stronger chapter in American 
history than the one which bears for a title 
"Ku Klux Klan." The organization which bore 
this name went out of life as it came into it, 
shrouded in deepest mystery. Its members would 
not disclose its secrets; others could not. Even 
the investigation committee appointed by Con- 
gress was baffled. The voluminous reports con- 
taining the results of that committee's tedious and 
diligent inquiry do not tell when and where and 
how the Ku Klux Klan originated. The veil of 
secrecy still hangs over its grave. We propose to 
lift it. 

The time has now arrived when the history of 
the origin, growth, and final decay of "The In- 
visible Empire" may be given to the public. Cir- 
cumstances not necessary to detail have put it in 
the power of the writer to compile such a history. 
• . (9) 



10 Historic Pulaski. 

For obvious reasons, the names of individuals are 
withheld. But the reader may feel assured that 
this narrative is drawn from sources which are 
accurate and authentic. 

The writer does not profess to be able to dis- 
close the secret signs, grips, and passwords of the 
order. These have never been disclosed and proba- 
bly never will be. But we claim to narrate facts 
relating to the order which have a historic and 
philosophic value. It is due to the truth of his- 
tory, to the student of human nature, to the states- 
men, and to the men who were engaged in this 
movement that the facts connected with this re- 
markable episode in our nation's history be frank- 
ly and fairly told. A wave of excitement, spread- 
ing by contagion till the minds of a whole peo- 
ple are in a ferment, is an event of frequent oc- 
currence. The Ku Klux movement was peculiar by 
reason of the causes which produced and fed the 
excitement. It illustrates the weird and irresist- 
ible power of the unknown and mysterious over 
the minds of men of all classes and conditions in 
life. And it illustrates how men by circumstances 
and conditions, in part of their own creation, may 
be carried away from their moorings and drift 
along in a course against which reason and judg- 
ment protest. 

The popular idea supposes the Ku Klux move- 



flisTomc Pulaski. 11 

ment to have been conceived in malice, and nursed 
by prejudice and hate, for lawlessness, rapine, and 
murder. The circumstances which brought the 
Klan into notice and notoriety were of a character 
to favor such conclusions. No other seemed pos- 
sible. 

The report of the Congressional investigation 
committee confirmed it. Even if that report be 
true, like everything else which is known of the 
Ku Klux, it is fragmentary truth. The whole 
story has never been told. And the impression 
prevails that the Ku Klux Klan was conceived 
and carried out in pure and unmixed deviltry. 
The reader who follows this narrative to its end 
will decide, with the facts before him, whether 
this impression is just and true. 

The Ku Klux Klan was the outgrowth of pe- 
culiar conditions, social, civil, and political, which 
prevailed in the South from 1865 to 1869. It 
was as much a product of those conditions as 
malaria is of a swamp and sun heat. Its birth- 
place was Pulaski, the capital of Giles County, 
one of the southern tier of counties in Middle Ten- 
nessee. Pulaski is a town of about three thou- 
sand inhabitants. Previous to the war its citizens 
possessed wealth and culture. They retain the sec- 
ond; the first was lost in the general wreck. The 
most intimate association with them fails to dis- 



12 fliSTOKIO f ULASKI. 

close a trace of the diabolism wliich, according to 
the popular idea, one would expect to find charac- 
terizing the people among whom the Ku Klux 
Klan originated. A male college and a female 
seminary are located at Pulaski and receive lib- 
eral patronage. It is a town of churches. There, 
in 1866, the name Ku EQux first fell from human 
lips. There began a movement which in a short 
time spread as far north as Virginia and as far 
south as Texas, and which for a period convulsed 
the country and attracted the attention of the civ- 
ilized world. Proclamations were fulminated 
against the Klan by the President and by the 
Governors of States ; and hostile statutes were en- 
acted both by State legislatures and national Con- 
gress. It was finally quieted, but not until there 
had become associated with the name Ku Klux 
gross mistakes and lawless deeds of violence. To 
this day there are localities where the utterance of 
it awakens awe and fear. 

During the entire period of the Klan's organ- 
ized existence Pulaski continued to be its central 
seat of authority. Some of its highest officers re- 
sided there. This narrative, therefore, will relate 
principally to the growth of the Klan and the 
measures taken to suppress it in Tennessee. It is 
necessary to a clear understanding of the move- 
ment to observe that the history of the Klan is 



Historic Pulaski. 13 

marked by two distinct and well-defined periods. 
The first period covers the time from its organiza- 
tion, in 1866, to the summer of 1867, the sec- 
ond from the summer of 1867 to the date of its 
disbandment in the early part of the year 1869. 

The first period contains but little of general 
interest, but it is necessary to describe it some- 
what minutely because of its bearing on subse- 
quent events. When the war ended, the young 
men of Pulaski who had escaped death on the 
battle field returned home and passed through a 
period of enforced inactivity. In some respects it 
w^as more trying than the ordeal of war which lay 
behind them. The reaction which followed the 
excitement of army scenes and service was in- 
tense. There was nothing to relieve' it. They 
could not engage at once in business or profes- 
sional pursuits. In the case of many, business 
habits were broken up. Few had capital to enter 
mercantile or agricultural enterprises. There was 
a total lack of the amusements and social diver- 
sions which prevail wherever society is in a normal 
condition. 

One evening in May, 1866, a few of these young 
men met in the office of one of the most prominent 
members of the Pulaski bar. In the course of the 
conversation one of the number said: "Boys, let 
us get up a club or society of some description." 



14 Historic Pulaski. 

The suggestion was discussed with enthusiasm. 
Before they separated it was agreed to invite 
others, whose names were mentioned, to join them 
and to meet again the next evening at the same 
place. At the appointed time eight or ten young 
men had assembled. A temporary organization 
was effected by the election of a Chairman and a 
^Secretary. There was entire unanimity among 
the members in regard to the end in view, which 
was diversion and amusement. The evening was 
spent in discussing the best means of attaining 
the object for which they were seeking. Two 
committees were appointed, one to select a name, 
the other to prepare a set of rules for the govern- 
ment of the society and a ritual for initiation of 
new members. The club adjourned to meet the 
following week to hear and act upon the reports 
of these committees. Before the arrival of the 
appointed time for the next meeting one of the 
wealthiest and most prominent citizens of Pulaski 
went on a business trip to Columbus, Miss., tak- 
ing his family with him. Before leaving he in- 
vited one of the leading spirits of the new society 
to take charge of and sleep at his house during 
his absence. This young man invited his com- 
rades to join him there. And so the place of 
meeting was changed from the law office to this 
residence. The owner of it outlined the Ku Klux 



Historic Pulaski. 15 

Klan and died ignorant of the fact that liis lionse 
was the place where its organization was fully 
effected. 

This residence afterwards came into the pos- 
session of Judge H. M. Spofford, of Spofford- 
Kellogg fame. It was his home at the time of his 
death, and is still owned by his widow. The com- 
mittee appointed to select a name reported that 
they had found the task difficult, and had not 
made a selection. They claimed that they had 
been trying to discover or invent a name which 
would be, to some extent, suggestive of the charac- 
ter and objects of the society. They mentioned 
several which they had been considering. In this 
number was the name "Kukloi," from the Greek 
word luUos, meaning a band or circle. At 
mention of this some one cried out: "Call it 
Ku Klux." ''Klan" at once suggested itself, and 
was added to complete the alliteration. So in- 
stead of adopting a name, as was the first inten- 
tion, which had a definite meaning, they chose 
one which to the proposer of it, and to every one 
else, was absolutely meaningless. 

This trivial and apparently accidental incident 
had a most important bearing on the future of 
the organization so singularly named. Looking 
back over the history of the Klan, and at the 
causes under which it developed, it is difficult to 



16 Historic Pulaski. 

resist the conclusion that the order would never 
have grown to the proportions which it afterwards 
assumed^ or wielded the power it did, had it not 
borne this name or some other equally as meaning- 
less and mysterious — ^mysterious because mean- 
ingless. Had they called themselves the ^^JoUy 
Jokers of the Adelphi/' or by some similar ap- 
pellation, the organization would doubtless have 
had no more than the mere local and ephemeral 
existence which those who organized it contem- 
plated for it. Hundreds of societies have origi- 
nated just as this one did, and after a brief exist- 
ence have passed away. But in this case there 
was a weird potency in the very name Ku Klux 
Klan. Let the reader pronounce it aloud. The 
sound of it is suggestive of bones rattling to- 
gether ! The potency of the name was not wholly 
in the impression made by it on the general pub- 
lic. It is a singular fact that the members of the 
Klan were themselves the first to feel its weird 
influence. They had adopted a mysterious name. 
Thereupon the original plan was modified so as 
to make everything connected with the order 
harmonize with its name. Amusement was still 
the end in view. But now the methods by which 
they proposed to win it were those of sdcrecy and 
mystery. So when the report of the committee 
on rules and ritual came up for consideration, the 



Historic Pulaski. 17 

recommendations were modified to adapt them to 
the new idea. The report as finally adopted pro- 
vided for the following officers : a Grand Cyclops, 
or President; a Grand Magi, or Vice President; 
a Grand Turk, or Marshal; a Grand Exchequer, 
or Treasurer ; and two Lictors, the outer and inner 
guards of the den, as the place of meeting was des- 
ignated. 

The one obligation exacted from members was 
to maintain profound and absolute secrecy with 
reference to the order and everything pertaining 
to it. This obligation prohibited those who as- 
sumed it from disclosing that they were Ku Klux, 
or the name of any other member, and from so- 
liciting any one to become a member. The last 
requirement was a singular one. It was enacted 
for two reasons: 

First, it was in keeping with the determination 
to appear as mysterious as possible, and thus play 
upon the curiosity of the public. 

Second, and mainly, it was designed to prevent 
unpleasantness following initiations. They wished 
to be able to say to novices: "You are here on 
your own solicitation, and not by invitation from 
us." They desired accessions; to have them was 
indispensable; but they knew human nature well 
enough to know that if they made the impression 
that they wished to be exclusive and select^ then 



18 HisTOEic Pulaski. 

applications for membership would be numerous. 
The result showed that they reasoned correctly. 

Each member was required to provide himself 
with the following outfit: A white mask for the 
face, with orifices for the eyes and nose; a tall, 
fantastic cardboard hat, so constructed as to in- 
crease the wearer's apparent height; a gown, or 
robe, of sufiScient length to cover the entire per- 
son. No particular color or material was pre- 
scribed. These were left to the individual's taste 
and fancy, and each selected what in his judg- 
ment would be the most hideous and fantastic, 
with the aim of inspiring the greatest amount of 
curiosity in the novice. These robes, of different 
colors, often of the most flashy patterns of ^^Dolly 
Varden" calicoes, added vastly to the grotesque ap- 
pearance of the assembled Klan. Each member 
carried also a small whistle, with which, by means 
of a code of signals agreed upon, they held com- 
munications with one another. The only utility 
of this device was to awaken inquiry. And the 
object of all this was amusement — "only this, and 
nothing more." 

A few young men debarred for the time by 
circumstances from entering any active business 
or professional pursuits, and deprived of the or- 
dinary diversions of social life, were seeking in this 
way to amuse and employ themselves. The or- 



HisTOKic Pulaski. 19 

ganization of this Klan was to them both diversion 
and occupation. But where, it may be asked, did 
the fun come in ? Partly in exciting the curiosity 
of the public, and then in baffling it; but mainly 
in the initiation of new members. The ritual 
used in the initiation was elaborate, but not worthy 
of reproduction. It is enough to say that it was 
modeled on and embraced the leading features 
cyf the ritual of an order which has long been 
popular in colleges and universities under vari- 
ous names. In one place it is the "Sons of Con- 
fucius,^^ in another the "Guiasticutus,'' but every- 
where the "Ancient and the Honorable'^ and the 
"Mirth-Provoking.'^ The initiations were at first 
conducted in the law oflSce where the suggestion 
for the formation of the Klan had been made. 
But it was not a suitable place. The room was 
small. It was near the business portion of the 
town, and while in session there they never felt 
entirely free "from apprehensions of interruption. 
They soon found a place in every respect better 
adapted to their purposes. On the brow of a 
ridge that runs along the western outskirts of the 
town there used to stand a handsome and com- 
modious residence. The front, or main building, 
was of brick, the ^T^" of wood. In December, 
1865, the brick portion of this house was demol- 
ished by a cyclone. The "L'' remained standing, 



20 Historic Pulaski. 

but tenantless. It consisted of three rooms. A 
stairway led from one of them to a large cellar 
beneath. Ko other houses stood near. Around 
these ruins were the storm-torn, limbless trunks 
of trees which had once formed a magnificent 
grove. Now they stood up, grim and gaunt, like 
specter sentinels. A dreary, desolate, uncanny 
place it was. But it was in every way most suit- 
able for a den, and the Klan appropriated it. 
When a meeting was held, one Lictor was sta- 
tioned near the house, the other fifty yards from 
it on the road leading into town. These were 
dressed in the fantastic regalia of the order and 
bore tremendous spears as the badge of their ofiice. 
As before stated, and for the reasons assigned, 
the Ku Klux did not solicit any one to join them ; 
yet they had applications for membership. While 
members were not allowed to disclose the fact of 
their membership, they were permitted to talk 
with others in regard to anything that was a 
matter of common report with reference to the 
order. If they chose, members were allowed to 
say to outsiders: ^^I am going to join the Ku 
Klux." If the persons addressed expressed a de- 
sire to do likewise, the Ku Klux would say, if the 
party was a desirable one: "Well, I think I know 
how to get in. Meet me at such a place, on such 
a night, at such an hour, and we will join to- 



Historic Pulaski. 21 

gether/^ Other similar subterfuges were resorted 
to to secure members without direct solicitation. 
Usually curiosity would predominate over every 
other consideration, and the candidate would be 
found waiting at the appointed place. As the 
Ku Klux and the candidate approached the senti- 
nel Lictor, they were hailed and halted and ques- 
tioned. Having received the assurance that they 
desired to become Ku Klux, the Lictor blew the 
signal for his companion to come and take charge 
of the novices. The candidate, under the impres- 
sion that his companion was similarly treated, was 
blindfolded and led to the den. The prelimi- 
naries of the initiation consisted in leading the can- 
didate around the rooms and down into the cellar, 
now and then placing before him obstructions 
which added to his discomfort, if not to his mysti- 
fication. After some rough sport of this descrip- 
tion, he was led before the Grand Cyclops, who 
solemnly addressed to him numerous questions. 
Some of these questions were grave, and occasion- 
ally a faulty answer resulted in the candidate's 
rejection. For the most part they were absurd to 
the last degree. If the answers were satis'factory, 
the obligation to secrecy, already administered, 
was exacted a second time. Then the Grand Cy- 
clops commanded: ^Tlace him before the royal 
altar and adorn his head with the regal crown." 



22 HisTOEic Pulaski. 

The ^^royal altar'^ was a large looking-glass. The 
"regal crown" was a huge hat^ bedecked with two 
enormous donkey ears. In this headgear the can- 
didate was placed before the mirror and directed 
to repeat the couplet : 

"O wad some power the giftie gie us 
To see oursel's as others see us!" 

As the last word was falling from his lips, the 
Grand Turk removed the bandage from his eyes, 
and before the candidate was his own ludicrous 
image in the mirror. To increase the discomfiture 
and chagrin which any man in such a situation 
would naturally feel, the removal of the bandage 
was the signal to the Klan -for indulgence in the 
most uproarious and boisterous mirth. The Grand 
Cyclops relaxed the rigor of his rule, and the de- 
corum hitherto maintained disappeared, and the 
den rang with shouts and peals of laughter; 
and worse than all, as he looked about him, he 
saw that he was surrounded by men dressed in 
hideous garb and masked, so that he could not 
recognize one of them. 

The character of these initiatory proceedings 
explains why, from the very first, secrecy was so 
much insisted on. A single "tale out of school" 
would have spoiled the fun. For the same reason 
the Klan, in its early history, was careful in re- 



Historic Pulaski. 23 

gard to the character of the raen admitted. Kash 
and imprudent men — such as could not be confi- 
dently relied upon to respect their obligation to 
secrec}^ — were excluded. Nor were those admitted 
who were addicted to the use of intoxicants. Later 
on in their history they were not so careful, but in 
the earlier period of its existence the Klan was 
composed of men of good habits. In some in- 
stances persons not regarded as eligible to mem- 
bership, or not desirable, were persistent even to 
annoyance in their efforts to gain admission to 
the order. Such persistence was occasionally re- 
buked in a manner more emphatic than tender. 
One young man had a consuming desire to be a 
Ku Klux. The sole objection to him was his 
youth. When he presented himself to the Lictor, 
the latter received him kindly and led him blind- 
folded, ^^over the hill and far away/^ to a secluded 
spot, and left him with the admonition to ^Vait 
there till called for.^^ After hours of weary wait- 
ing, the young man removed the bandage from his 
eyes and sought the shelter of the paternal roof. 
Another of riper years, but for some reason not 
acceptable to the order, made repeated efforts to 
join the Klan. For his special benefit they ar- 
ranged to have an initiation not provided 'for in 
the ritual. A meeting was appointed to be held 
on the top of a hill that rises by a gentle slope to 



24 Historic Pulaski. 

a considerable height on the northern limits of 
Pulaski. The candidate, in the usual way — blind- 
fold excepted — was led into the presence of the 
Grand Cyclops. This dignitary was standing on 
a stump. The tall hat, the flowing robe, and the 
elevated position made him appear not less than 
ten feet tall. He addressed to the candidate a few 
unimportant and absurd questions, and then, 
turning to the Lictors, said : ^^Blindfold the candi- 
date and proceed/^ The ^^proeedure" in this case 
was to place the would-be Ku Klux in a barrel 
provided for the purpose, and to send him whirl- 
ing down the hill ! To his credit, be it said, he 
never revealed any of the secrets of the Ku Klux 
Klan. 

These details have an important bearing on the 
subsequent history of the Ku Klux. They show 
that the originators of the Klan were not meditat- 
ing treason or lawlessness in any form. Yet the 
Klan's later history grew naturally out of the 
measures and methods which characterized this 
period of it. Its projectors did not expect it to 
spread. They thought it would 'Tiave its little 
day and die." It lived; it grew to vast propor- 
tions. 



II. 

The Spread of the Klan". 

The devices for attracting attention were emi- 
nently successful. During the months of July 
and August, 1866, the Klan was much talked 
about by the citizens of Pulaski. Its mysterious- 
ness was the sensation of the hour. Every issue 
of the local paper contained some notice of the 
strange order. These notices were copied into 
other papers, and in this manner the way was pre- 
pared for the rapid growth and spread of the Klan 
which soon followed. Six weeks or less from the 
date of the organization the sensation in Pulaski 
had reached its height and was waning. Curiosity 
in regard to it had abated to such a degree that 
the Klan would have certainly fallen to pieces 
but for the following circumstances : 

By the time the eligible material in the town 
had been used up, the young men from the coun- 
try, whose curiosity had been inflamed by the 
newspaper notices, began to come in and apply for 
admission to the Klan. Some of these applica- 
tions were accepted. In a little while the mem- 
bers from the country asked permission to estab- 
lish dens at various points in the county. No 

(25) 



^6 Historic Pulaski. 

provision had been made for such a contingency, 
but the permission was granted; had it not been, 
the result in all probability would have been the 
same. 

As the ritual followed by the Pulaski Klan 
could not be conveniently carried out in the coun- 
try, various modifications and changes were per- 
mitted. But the strictest injunctions were laid on 
these new lodges, or dens, in regard to secrecy, 
mystery, and the character of the men admitted. 
The growth in the rural districts was more rapid 
than it had been in the town. Applications 'for 
permission to establish dens multiplied rapidly. 

The news that the Ku Klux were spreading to 
the country excited the attention of the country 
people more generally than the existence of the 
Klan in the town had done. The same cause re- 
kindled the waning interest of the town people. 
Every issue of the local papers in the "infected 
regions" bristled with highly mysterious and ex- 
citing accounts of the doings of the "fantastic 
gentry." 

During the fall and winter of 1866 the growth 
of the Klan was rapid. It spread over a wide ex- 
tent of territory. Sometimes, by a sudden leap, 
it appeared in localities far distant from any ex- 
isting den. A stranger from West Tennessee, 
Mississippi, Alabama, or Texas, visiting a neigh- 



Historic Pulaski. 27 

borhood where the order prevailed, would he ini- 
tiated, and on his departure carry with him per- 
mission to establish a den at home. In fact, it 
was often done without such permission. The 
connecting link between these dens was very 
fragile. By a sort of tacit agreement the Pulaski 
Klan was regarded as the source of power and 
authority. The Grand Cyclops of this den was 
virtually the ruler of the order; but as he had no 
method of communicating with the subjects or 
subordinates, and no way in which to enforce his 
mandates, his authority was more fancy than fact. 
But so far there had appeared no need for compact 
organization, rigid rules, and close supervision. 
The leading spirits of the Ku Klux Klan were 
contemplating nothing more serious than amuse- 
ment. They enjoyed the baffled curiosity and wild 
speculations of a mystified public even more than 
the rude sport afforded by the ludicrous initia- 
tions. 

Such is the account of the Ku Klux Klan in 
the first period of its history from June, 1866, 
to April, 1867; yet all this time it was graduall}^, 
in a very natural way, taking on new features not 
at first remotely contemplated by the originators 
of the order — features which finally transformed 
the Ku Klux Klan into a band of regulators. 
The transformation was effected by the combined 



28 Historic Pulaski. 

operation of several causes: (1) Tlie impressions 
made by the order upon the minds of those who 
united with it, (2) the impressions upon the 
public by its weird and mysterious methods, (3) 
the anomalous and peculiar condition of affairs in 
the South at this time. The mystery with which 
the Klan veiled itself made a singular impression 
on the minds of many who united with it. 

The prevalent idea was that the Klan contem- 
plated some great and important mission. This 
idea aided in its rapid growth, and, on the other 
hand, the rapid extension of the Klan confirmed 
this idea of its purposes. When admitted to mem- 
bership this conclusion, in the case of many, was 
deepened rather than removed by what they saw 
and heard. There was not a word in the ritual 
or in the obligation or in any part of the cere- 
mony to favor such a conclusion; but the impres- 
sion still remained that this mysteriousness and 
secrecy, the high-sounding titles of the officers, the 
grotesque dress of the members, and the formid- 
able obligation all meant more than mere sport. 
This impression was ineradicable, and the attitude 
of many of the members continued to be that of 
expecting great developments. Each had his own 
speculations as to what was to be the character of 
the serious work which the Klan had to do. But 
they were satisfied that there was such work. It 



Historic Pulaski. 29 

was an unhealthy and dangerous state of mind for 
men to be in ; bad results in some cases very natu- 
rally followed from it. 

The impression made by the Klan on the public 
was the second cause which contributed to its 
transformation into a band of regulators. When 
the meetings first began to be held in the dilapi- 
dated house on the hill^ passers-by were frequent. 
Most of them passed the grim, ghostly sentinel on 
the roadside in silence, but always with a quick- 
ened step. Occasionally one would stop and ask : 
^'Who are you?" In awfully sepulchral tones, the 
invariable answer was: "A spirit from the other 
world. I was killed at Chickamauga." Such an 
answer, especially when given to a superstitious 
negro, was extremely terrifying; and if, in addi- 
tion, he heard the uproarious noises issuing from 
the den at the moment of the candidate's in- 
vestiture with the "regal crown," he had the foun- 
dation for a most awe-inspiring story. There came 
from the country similar stories. The belated 
laborer, passing after nightfall some lonely aud 
secluded spot, heard horrible noises and saw fear- 
ful sights. These stories were repeated with such 
embellishments as the imagination of the narrator 
suggested, till the feeling of the negroes and of 
many of the white people, at mention of the Ku 
KluXj was one of awe and terror, 



30 HisTOKic Pulaski. 

In a short time the Lictor of the Pulaski den 
reported that travel along the road on which he 
had his post had almost entirely stopped. In the 
country it was noticed that the nocturnal per- 
ambulation of the colored population diminished 
or entirely ceased wherever the Ku Klux ap- 
peared. In many ways there was a noticeable im- 
provement in the habits of a large class who had 
hitherto been causing great annoyance. In this 
way the Klan gradually realized that the most 
powerful devices ever constructed for controlling 
the ignorant and superstitious were in their hands. 
Even the most highly cultured were not able 
wholly to resist the weird and peculiar feeling 
which pervaded every community where the Ku 
Klux appeared. Each week some new incident 
occurred to illustrate the amazing power of the 
unknown over the minds of men of all classes. 
Circumstances made it evident that the measures 
and methods employed for sport might be effectu- 
ally used to subserve the public welfare — to sup- 
press lawlessness and protect property. When 
propositions to this effect began to be urged, there 
were many who hesitated, fearing danger. The 
majority regarded such fears as groundless. They 
pointed to the good results which had already 
been produced. The argument was forcible — 
almost unanswerable. And the question was de- 



HisTOEio Pulaski. 31 

cided without formal action. The very force of 
circumstances had carried the Klan away from its 
original purpose. So that in the beginning of the 
summer of 1867 it was virtually, though not yet 
professedly, a band of regulators, honestly, but in 
an injudicious and dangerous way, trying to pro- 
tect property and preserve peace and order. 

After all, the most powerful agency in effecting 
this transformation, the agency which supplied 
the conditions under which the two causes just 
mentioned became operative, was the peculiar 
state of affairs existing in the South at that time. 
As every one knows, the condition of things was 
wholly anomalous, but no one can fully appreciate 
the circumstances by which the people of the 
South were surrounded except by personal obser- 
vation and experience; and no one who is not 
fully acquainted with all the facts in the case is 
competent to pronounce a just judgment on their 
behavior. On this account, not only the Ku Klux, 
but the mass of the Southern people, have been 
tried, convicted, and condemned at the bar of 
public opinion, and have been denied the equity 
of having the sentence modified by mitigating cir- 
cumstances, which in justice they have a right 
to plead. 

At that time the throes of the great revolution 
were settling down to quiet. The almost universal 



32 Historic Pulaski. 

disposition of the better class of tHe people was 
to accept the arbitrament which the sword had 
accorded them. On this point there was practical 
unanimity. Those who had opportunity and fa- 
cilities to do so engaged at once in agricultural, 
professional, or business pursuits. There was but 
little disposition to take part in politics. 

But there were two causes of vexation and ex- 
asperation which the people were in no good mood 
to bear. One of these causes related to that class 
of men who, like scum, had been thrown to the 
surface in the great upheaval. It was not simply 
that they were Union men from conviction. That 
would have been readily forgiven then^ as can be 
shown by pointing to hundreds of cases. But the 
majority of the class referred to had played traitor 
to both sides, and were Union men now only be- 
cause that was the successful side. And worse 
than all, they were now engaged in keeping alive 
discord and strife between the sections as the 
only means of preventing themselves from sink- 
ing back into the obscurity from which they had 
been upheaved. Their conduct was malicious in 
the extreme and exceedingly exasperating. These 
men were a "thorn in the flesh" of the body 
politic and social, and the effort to expel it set 
up an inflammation which for a time awakened 
the gravest apprehensions as to the result. 



HisTOKio Pulaski. 33 

The second disturbing element was the negroes. 
Their transition from slavery to citizenship was 
sudden. They were not only not fitted for the 
cares of self-control and maintenance so suddenly 
thrust upon them, but many of them entered their 
new roles in life under the delusion that freedom 
meant license. They regarded themselves as freed- 
men, not only from bondage to former masters, 
but from the common and ordinary obligations of 
citizenship. Many of them looked upon obedience 
to the laws of the State — which had been framed 
by their former owners — as in some measure a 
compromise of the rights with which they had 
been invested. The administration of civil law 
was only partially reestablished. On that account, 
and for other reasons, there was an amount of dis- 
order and violence prevailing over the country 
which has never been equaled at any period of its 
history. 

If the officers of the law had had the disposition 
and ability to arrest all lawbreakers, a jail and 
courthouse in every civil district would have been 
required. 

The depredations on property by theft and by 
wanton destruction for the gratification of petty 
revenge were to the last degree annoying. A large 
part of these depredations was the work of bad 
white men, who expected that their lawless deeds 



34 HisTOEic Pulaski. 

would be credited to the negroes. But perhaps the 
most potent of all causes which brought about this 
transformation was the existence in the South 
of a spurious and perverted form of the Union 
League. 

It would be as unfair to this organization, as it 
existed at the North, to charge it with the out- 
rages committed under cover of its name as it is 
to hold the Ivu Klux Klan responsible for all the 
lawlessness and violence with which it is credited. 

But it is a part of the history of those times that 
there was a widespread and desperately active or- 
ganization called the Union League. It was 
composed of the disorderly element of the negro 
population, and was led and controlled by white 
men of the basest and meanest type just now re- 
ferred to. They met frequently, went armed to the 
teeth, and literally "breathed out threatening and 
slaughter.'^ They not only uttered, but in many 
instances executed, the most violent threats against 
the persons, families, and property of men, whose 
sole crime was that they had been in the Confeder- 
ate army. It cannot be truthfully denied that the 
Ku Klux committed excesses and were charged 
with wrongdoing. But they were never guilty of 
the disorderly and unprovoked deeds of deviltry 
which mark the history of the Southern Union 
League. It was partly — I may say chiefly — to re- 



Historic Pulaski. 35 

sist this aggressive and belligerent organization 
that the Ku Klux transformed themselves into a 
protective organization. 

Whatever may be the judgment of history, those 
who know the facts will ever remain firm in the 
conviction that the Ku Klux Klan was of immense 
service at this period of Southern history. With- 
out it in many sections of the South life to de- 
cent people would not have been tolerable. It 
served a good purpose. Wherever the Ku Klux 
appeared, the effect was salutary. For a while the 
robberies ceased. The lawless class assumed the 
habits of good behavior. 

The Union League relaxed its desperate sever- 
ity and became more moderate. Under their fear 
of the dreaded Ku Klux, the negroes made more 
progress in a few months in the needed lessons of 
self-control, industry, and respect for the rights of 
property and general good behavior than they 
would have done in as many years but for this or 
some equally powerful impulse. It was a rough 
and a dangerous way to teach such lessons, but, un- 
der all the circumstances, it seemed the only pos- 
sible way. 

Of course these men were trying a dangerous 
experiment. Many of them knew it at the time, 
and did not expect it, on the whole, to turn out 
more successfully than others of a similar charac- 



36 HisTOKic Pulaski. 

ter. But there seemed to be no other alternative 
at the time. Events soon occurred which showed 
that the fears of those who apprehended danger 
were not groundless, and it became evident, unless 
the Klan should be brought under better control 
than its leaders at this time exercised over it, that 
while it suppressed some evils it would give rise 
to others almost, if not fully, as great. 



III. 

The Tkaksformation. 

Until the beginning of the year 1867 the move- 
ments of the Klan had, in the main, been charac- 
terized by prudence and discretion ; but there were 
some exceptions. In some cases there had been a 
liberal construction of order and of what was by 
common consent the law of the Klan. In some the 
limits which tacitly it had been agreed upon not 
to pass had been overstepped. 

Attempts had been made to correct by positive 
means evils which menaces had not been sufficient 
to remove. Eash, imprudent, and bad men had 
gotten into the order. The danger which the more 
prudent and thoughtful had apprehended as possi- 
ble was now a reality. Had it been possible to do 
BO, some of the leaders would have been in favor 
of disbanding. That could not well be done, be- 
cause at that time the organization was so loose 
and imperfect. So to speak, the tie that bound 
them together was too shadowy to be cut or untied. 
They had evoked a spirit from "the vasty deep." 
It would not down at their bidding. And, besides, 
the Klan was needed. The only course which 
seemed to promise any satisfactory solution of the 

(37) 



38 HisTOKic Pulaski. 

difficulty was this: To reorganize the Klan on a 
plan corresponding to its size and present pur- 
poses ; to bind the isolated dens together ; to secure 
unity of purpose and concert of action; to hedge 
the members up by such limitations and regula- 
tions as were best adapted to restrain them within 
proper limits; to distribute the authority among 
prudent men at local centers, and exact from them 
a close supervision of those under their charge. 

In this way it was hoped the impending dangers 
would be effectually guarded against. With these 
objects in view, the Grand Cyclops of the Pulaski 
den sent out a request to all the dens of which he 
had knowledge to appoint delegates to meet in con- 
vention at Nashville, Tenn., in the early summer 
of 1867. At the time appointed this convention 
was held. Delegates were present from Tennessee, 
Alabama, and a number of other States. A plan 
of reorganization, previously prepared, was sub- 
mitted to this convention and adopted. After the 
transaction of some further business, the conven- 
tion adjourned and the delegates returned home 
without having attracted any attention. 

At this convention the territory covered by the 
Klan was designated as the "Invisible Empire." 
This was subdivided into "realms" coterminous 
with the boundaries of States. The "realms" were 
divided into "dominions" corresponding to Con- 



Historic JPulaski. S9 

gressional districts, the '"dominions" into prov- 
inces" coterminous with counties, and the "prov- 
inces" into ^^dens." To each of these departments 
officers were assigned. 

Except in the case of the supreme officer, the 
duties of each were minutely specified. 

These officers were : 

The Grand Wizard of the Invisible Empire and 
his ten Genii. The powers of this officer were al- 
most autocratic. 

The Grand Dragon of the Eealm and his eight 
Hydras. 

The Grand Titan of the Dominion and his six 
Furies. 

The Grand Cyclops of the Den and his two 
Night Hawks. 

The Grand Monk. 

A Grand Scribe. 

A Grand Exchequer. 

A Grand Turk. 

A Grand Sentinel. 

The Genii, Hydras, Euries, Goblins, and Night 
Hawks were staS officers. The gradation and dis- 
tribution of authority were perfect. But for the 
source of weakness, the Klan, under this new or- 
ganization, was one of the most perfectly organized 
orders that ever existed in the world. 

As we shall see presently, it was vulnerable and 



40 Historic Pulaski. 

failed because of the character of its methods. Se- 
crecy was at first its strength. It afterwards be- 
came its greatest weakness. As long as mystery 
was conjoined with it, it was strength. When 
masks and disguises ceased to be mysterious, se- 
crecy was weakness. 

One of the most important things done by this 
Nashville convention was to make a positive and 
emphatic declaration of the principles of the or- 
der. It was in the following terms : "We recognize 
our relations to the United States government, 
the supremacy of the Constitution, the constitu- 
tional laws thereof, and the union of States there- 
under." 

If these men were plotting treason, it puzzles 
us to know why they should make such a statement 
as that in setting forth the principles of the order. 
The statement above quoted was not intended for 
general circulation and popular effect. So far as 
is known, it is now given to the public for the first 
time. We must regard it, therefore, as accurately 
describing the political attitude which the Ku 
Klux proposed and desired to maintain. Every 
man who became a member of the Klan really took 
an oath to support the Constitution of the United 
States. 

This Nashville convention also defined and set 
forth the peculiar objects of the order, as follows : 



HisTOEic Pulaski. 41 

1. To protect the weak, the innocent, and the de- 
fenseless from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages 
of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve 
the injured and the oppressed; to succor the suffer- 
ing, and especially the widows and orphans of Con- 
federate soldiers. 

2. To protect and defend the Constitution of the 
United States, and all laws passed in conformity 
thereto, and to protect the States and the people 
thereof from all invasion from any source whatever. 

3. To aid and assist in the execution of all con- 
stitutional laws, and to protect the people from un- 
lawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers 
in conformity to the laws of the land. 

This last clause was the result of the infamous 
and barbarous legislation of that day. On June 
3, 1865, the Thirty-Fourth General Assembly of 
Tennessee revived the sedition law and restricted 
the right of suffrage. A negro militia, ignorant 
and brutal, were afterwards put over the State, 
and spread terror throughout its borders. Men 
felt that they had no security for life, liberty, or 
property. They were persecuted if they dared to 
complain. It was no strange thing if they re- 
sorted to desperate measures for protection. The 
emergency was desperate. Taking all the circum- 
stances and aggravations into consideration, one 
cannot but be surprised that men so persecuted and 
oppressed remained so moderate and forbearing. 

The legislation of the Nashville convention of 



42 EisTORic Pulaski. 

Ku Klux bears internal evidence of what we know 
from other sources to be true. Whilst devising 
measures for protection to life and property, and 
for the resistance of lawlessness and oppression, 
whether from irresponsible parties or from those 
who professed to be acting legally and under cover 
of authority, they were anxious also to control the 
Klan itself and to keep it within what they con- 
ceived to be safe limits. 

Up to this time the majority had shown a fair 
appreciation of the responsibilities of their self- 
imposed task of preserving social order. But un- 
der any circumstances the natural tendency of an 
organization such as this is to violence and crime, 
much more under such circumstances as those then 
prevailing. 

Excesses had been committed. Whether justly 
BO or not, they were credited to the Klan. And it 
was foreseen and feared that if such things con- 
tinued or increased the hostility of State and Fed- 
eral governments would be kindled against the 
Klan and active measures taken to suppress it. 
The hope was entertained that the legislation 
enacted by the convention and the reorganization 
would not only enable the Klan to play its role as a 
regulator with greater success, but would keep its 
members within the prescribed limits, and so guard 
against the contingencies referred to. They de- 



Historic Pulaski. 43 

sired, on the one hand, to restrain and control their 
own members; on the other, to correct evils and 
promote order in society ; and to do the latter sole- 
ly by utilizing for this purpose the means and 
methods originally employed for amusement. In 
each direction the success was but partial, as will 
be told presently. 

By the reorganization no material change was 
made in the methods of the Klan's operations. 
Some of the old methods were slightly modified; 
a few new features were added. The essential fea- 
tures of mystery, secrecy, and grotesqueness were 
retained, and steps were taken with a view to deep- 
ening and intensifying the impressions already 
made upon the public mind. They attempted to 
push to the extreme limits of illustration the power 
of the mysterious over the minds of men. 

Henceforth they courted publicity as assiduously 
as they had formerly seemed to shun it. They ap- 
peared at different points at the same time, and al- 
ways when and where they were the least ex- 
pected. Devices were multiplied to deceive peo- 
ple in regard to their numbers and everything else, 
and to play upon the fears of the superstitious. 

As it was now the policy of the Klan to appear 
in public, an order was issued by the Grand Dragon 
of the Eealm of Tennessee to the Grand Giants of 
the Provinces for a general parade in the capital 



44 HiSTOKIC PULASKl. 

town of eacli province on the niglit of July 4, 1867. 
It will be sufficient for this narrative to describe 
that parade as witnessed by the citizens of Pulaski. 
Similar scenes were enacted at many other places. 

On the morning of July 4, 1867, the citizens of 
Pulaski found the sidewalks thickly strewn with 
slips of paper bearing the printed words: ^^The 
Ku Klux will parade the streets to-night." This 
announcement created great excitement. The peo- 
ple supposed that their curiosity, so long baffled, 
would now be gratified. They were confident that 
this parade would at least afford them the oppor- 
tunity to find out who were the Ku Klux. 

Soon after nightfall the streets were lined with 
an expectant and excited throng of people. Many 
came from the surrounding country. The mem- 
bers of the Klan in the county left their homes in 
the afternoon and traveled alone or in squads of 
two or three, with their paraphernalia carefully 
concealed. If questioned, they answered that they 
were going to Pulaski to see the Ku Klux parade. 
After nightfall they assembled at designated points 
near the four main roads leading into town. Here 
they donned their robes and disguises and put cov- 
ers of gaudy materials on their horses. A sky- 
rocket sent up from some point in the town was 
the signal to mount and move. The different com- 
panies met and passed each other on the public 



HisTOEic Pulaski. 45 

square in perfect silence. The discipline appeared 
to be admirable. Not a word was spoken. Neces- 
sary orders were given by means of the whistles. 
In single file, in deathlike stillness, with funeral 
slowness they marched and countermarched 
throughout the town. While the column was 
headed north on one street, it was going south on 
another. By crossing over in opposite directions, 
the lines were kept up in almost unbroken conti- 
nuity. The eSect was to create the impression of 
vast numbers. This marching and countermarch- 
ing was kept up for about two hours, and the Klan 
departed as noiselessly as they came. The public 
were more than ever mystified. Curiosity had not 
been satisfied, as it was expected it would be. The 
efforts of the most curious and cunning to find out 
who were Ku Klux failed. One gentleman from 
the country, a great lover of horses, who claimed to 
know every horse in the county, was confident that 
he would be able to identify the riders by the 
horses. With this purpose in view, he remained in 
town to witness the parade. But, as we have said, 
the horses were disguised as well as the riders. 
Determined not to be bafiied, during a halt of the 
column he lifted the cover of a horse that was near 
him — the rider offering no objection — and recog- 
nized his own steed and saddle upon which he had 
ridden into town. The town people were on the 



46 HisTOEic Pulaski. 

alert also to see who of the young men of the town 
would be with the Ku Klux. All of them, almost 
without exception, were marked, mingling freely 
and conspicuously with the spectators. Those of 
them who were members of the Klan did not go 
into the parade. 

This demonstration had the effect for which it 
was designed. Perhaps the greatest illusion pro- 
duced by it was in regard to the numbers partici- 
pating in it. Reputable citizens — men of cool and 
accurate judgment — were confident that the num- 
ber was not less than three thousand. Others, 
whose imaginations were more easily wrought upon, 
were quite certain that there were ten thousand. 
The truth is that the number of Ku Klux in the 
parade did not exceed four hundred. This de- 
lusion in regard to numbers prevailed wherever the 
Ku Klux appeared. It illustrates how little the 
testimony of even eyewitnesses is worth in regard 
to anything which makes a deep impression on him 
by reason of its mysteriousness. The Klan had a 
large membership ; it exerted a vast, terrifying, and 
wholesome power; but its influence was never at 
any time dependent on or proportioned to its mem^ 
bership. It was in the mystery in which the com- 
paratively few enshrouded themselves. Genera) 
Forrest, before the investigation committee, placed 
the number of Ku Klux in Tennessee at 40,000, 



Historic Pulaski. 47 

and in the entire South at 550,000. This was with 
him only a guessing estimate. Careful investiga- 
tion leads to the conclusion that he overshot the 
mark in both cases. It is an error to suppose that 
the entire male population of the South were Ku 
Klux, or that even a majority of them were privy 
to its secrets and in sympathy with its extremest 
measures. To many of them, perhaps to a major- 
ity, the Ku Klux Klan was as vague, impersonal, 
and mysterious as to the people of the North or of 
England. They did attribute to it great good, and 
to this day remember with gratitude the protection 
it afforded them in the most trying and perilous pe- 
riod of their history, when there was no other earth- 
ly source to which to appeal. 

One or two illustrations may here be given of 
the methods resorted to to play upon the supersti- 
tious fears of the negroes and others. At the pa- 
rade in Pulaski, while the procession was passing 
a corner on which a negro man was standing, a 
tall horseman in hideous garb turned aside from 
the line, dismounted, and stretched out his bridle 
rein toward the negro, as if he desired him to hold 
his horse. Not daring to refuse, the frightened 
African extended his hand to grasp the rein. As 
he did so, the Ku Klux took his own head from his 
shoulders and offered to place that also in the out- 
stretched hand. The negro stood not upon the or^ 



48 HisTOEic Pulaski. 

der of his going, but departed with a yell of terror. 
To this day he will tell you: "He done it, suah, 
boss. I seed him do it.'' The gown was fastened 
by a drawstring over the top of the wearer's head. 
Over this was worn an artificial skull made of a 
large gourd or of pasteboard. This, with the hat, 
could be readily removed, and the man would then 
appear to be headless. Such tricks gave rise to the 
belief — still prevalent among the negroes — that the 
Ku Klux could take themselves all to pieces when- 
ever they wanted to. 

Some of the Ku Klux carried skeleton hands. 
These were made of bone or wood, with a handle 
long enough to be held in the hand, which was con- 
cealed by the gown sleeve. The possessor of one 
of these was invariably of a friendly turn and of- 
fered to shake hands with all he met — with what 
effect may be readily imagined. 

A trick of frequent perpetration in the country 
was for a horseman, spectral and ghostly looking, 
to stop before the cabin of some negro needing a 
wholesome impression and call for a bucket of wa- 
ter. If a dipper or gourd was brought, it was de- 
clined and the bucket full of water demanded. As 
if consumed by a raging thirst, the horseman 
grasped it and pressed it to his lips. He held it 
there until every drop of the water was poured into 
a gum or oiled sack concealed beneath the Ku 



Historic Pulaski. 49 

Klux robe. Then the empty bucket was returned 
to the amazed negro, with the remark: "That's 
good. It is the first drink of water I have had since 
I was killed at Shiloh.'' Then a few words of coun- 
sel as to future behavior made an impression not 
easily forgotten or likely to be disregarded. Un- 
der ordinary circumstances such devices are un- 
justifiable. But in the peculiar state of things 
then existing they served a good purpose. It was 
not only better to deter the negroes from theft and 
other lawlessness in this way than to put them in 
the penitentiary, but it was the only way at this 
time by which they could be controlled. The jails 
would not contain them. The courts could not or 
would not try them. The policy of the Klan all 
the while was to deter men from wrongdoing. It 
was only in rare, exceptional cases, and these the 
most aggravated, that it undertook to punish. 
4 



IV. 

The Decline. 

For a while after the reorganization of the Klan 
those concerned for its welfare and right conduct 
congratulated themselves that all was well. 
Closer organization and stricter official supervision 
had a restraining influence upon the members. 
Many things seemed to indicate that the future 
work of the Klan would be wholly good. 

These hopes were rudely shattered. Erelong offi- 
cial supervision grew less rigid or was less re- 
garded. The membership was steadily increasing. 
Among the new material added were some bad men 
who could not be — at least were not — controlled. 

In the winter and spring of 1867 and 1868 
many things were done by members, or professed 
members, of the Klan which were the subject of 
universal regret and condemnation. In many ways 
the grave censure of those who had hitherto been 
friendly to it was evoked against the Klan, and 
occasion, long sought for, was given its enemies to 
petition the intervention of the government to sup- 
press it. The end came rapidly. We must now 
trace the causes which wrought the decay and 
downfall of the "Invisible Empire.'^ 

In regard to the doings of the Ku Klux, two ex- 
(50) 



HisTOKio Pulaski. 51 

treme positions have been advocated. On the one 
hand, it is asserted that the Ku Klux committed 
no outrages. On the other, that they were the au- 
thors of all the depredations committed by masked 
and disguised men in the Southern States from 
1865 to 1869. The truth lies between these two 
extremes. Great outrages were committed by bands 
of disguised men during those years of lawlessness 
and oppression. And the fact must be admitted 
that some of these outrages were committed, if not 
by the order and approbation of the Klan, at least 
by men who were members of it. 

The thoughtful reader will readily understand 
how this came about. There was a cause which 
naturally and almost necessarily produced the re- 
sult. Men of the character of the majority of those 
who composed the Klan do not disregard their own 
professed principles and violate self-assumed obli- 
gations without cause. We have seen that the Klan 
was, in the main, composed of the very best men of 
the country — peaceable, law-loving, and law-abid- 
ing men, men of good habits and character, men 
of property and intelligence. 

We have seen that the organization had no po- 
litical significance; they expressly and in solemn 
secret compact declared their allegiance to the Con- 
stitution and all constitutional laws, and pledged 
themselves to aid in the administration of all such 



52 HisTOKio Pulaski. 

laws. To see such men defying law and creating 
disorder is a sight singular enough to awake in- 
quiry as to the causes which had been at work upon 
them. The transformation of the Ku Klux Klan 
from a band of regulators, honestly trying to pre- 
serve peace and order, into the body of desperate 
men who, in 1869, convulsed the country and set 
at defiance the mandates of both State and Federal 
government is greater than the transformation 
which we have already traced. 

In both cases there were causes at work adequate 
to the results produced — causes from which, as re- 
marked before, the results followed naturally and 
necessarily. These have never been fully and fair- 
ly stated. They may be classed under three general 
heads: (1) Unjust charges. (2) Misapprehension 
of the nature and objects of the order on the part 
of those not members of it. (3) Unwise and over- 
severe legislation. 

As has already been pointed out, the order con- 
tained within itself, by reason of the methods prac- 
ticed, sources of weakness. The devices and dis- 
guises by which the Klan deceived outsiders en- 
abled all who were so disposed, even its own mem- 
bers, to practice deception on the Klan itself. It 
placed in the hands of its own members the facility 
to do deeds of violence for the gratification of per- 
sonal feeling and have them credited to the Klan. 



HisTOKic Pulaski. 53 

To the evilly disposed, membersliip in the Klan was 
an inducement to wrongdoing. It presented to all 
men a dangerous temptation, which, in certain con- 
tingencies at any time likely to arise, it required a 
considerable amount of robustness to resist. Many 
did not withstand it. And deeds of violence were 
done by men who were Ku Klux, but who, while 
acting under cover of their connection with the 
Klan, were not under its orders. But because these 
men were Ku Klux the Klan had to bear the odium 
of wrongdoing. 

In addition to this, the very class which the 
Klan proposed to hold in check and awe into good 
behavior soon became wholly unmanageable. 
Those who had formerly committed depredations 
to be laid to the charge of the negroes, after a 
brief interval of good behavior, assumed the guise 
of Ku Klux and returned to their old ways, but 
with less boldness and more caution, showing the 
salutary impression which the Klan had made 
upon them. In some cases the negroes played Ku 
Klux. Outrages were committed by masked men 
in regions far remote from any Ku Klux organiza- 
tion. The parties engaged took pains to assert 
that they were Ku Klux, which the members of 
the Klan never did. This was evidence that these 
parties were simply aping in Ku Klux disguises. 
The proof on this point is ample and clear. After 



54 Historic Pulaski. 

the passage of the anti-Ku Klux statute by the 
State of Tennessee several instances occurred of 
parties being arrested in Ku Klux disguises; but 
in every instance they proved to be either negroes 
or "radical'^ Brownlow Eepublicans. This oc- 
curred so often that the statute was allowed by the 
party in power to become a dead letter before its 
repeal. It bore too hard on "loya?^ men when 
enforced. 

The same thing occurred in Georgia and other 
States. (See testimony of General Gordon and 
others before the Investigating Committee.) No 
single instance occurred of the arrest of a masked 
man who proved to be, when stripped of his dis- 
guises, a Ku Klux. 

But it came to pass that all the disorder done in 
the country was charged upon the Ku Klux, be- 
cause done under disguises which they had in- 
vented and used. The Klan had no way in which 
to disprove or refute the charges. They felt that 
it was hard to be charged with violence of which 
they were innocent. At the same time they felt 
that it was natural and, under the circumstances, 
not wholly unjust that this should be the case. 
They had assumed the office of regulators. It was 
therefore due society, due themselves, and due the 
government, which so far had not molested them, 
that they should at least not afford the lawless 



Historic Pulaski. 55 

classes facilities for the commission of excesses 
greater than any they had hitherto indulged in, 
and, above all, that they should restrain their own 
members from lawlessness. 

The Klan felt all this; and in its efforts to re- 
lieve itself of the stigma thus incurred it acted in 
some cases against the offending parties with a se- 
verity well merited, no doubt, but unjustifiable. 
As is frequently the case, they were carried beyond 
the limits of prudence and right by a hot zeal for 
self-vindication against unjust aspersions. They 
felt that the charge of wrong was unfairly brought 
against them. To clear themselves of the charge 
they did worse wrong than that alleged against 
them. 

The Klan from the first shrouded itself in deep- 
est mystery. Out of this fact grew trouble not at 
first apprehended. They wished people not to un- 
derstand. They tried to keep them profoundly 
ignorant. The result was that the Klan and its 
objects were wholly misunderstood and misinter- 
preted. Many who joined the Klan and many who 
did not were certain that it contemplated some- 
thing far more important than its overt acts gave 
evidence of. Some were sure that it meant treason 
and revolution. The negroes and the whites whose 
consciences made them the subjects of guilty fears 
were sure it boded no good to them. 



56 HisTOEic Pulaski. 

When the first impressions of awe and terror 
which the Klan had inspired to some extent wore 
off, a feeling of intense hostility toward the Ku 
Klux Klan followed. This feeling was the more 
bitter because founded, not on overt acts which the 
Ku Klux had done, but on vague fears and sur- 
mises as to what they intended to do. Those who 
entertained such fears were in some cases impelled 
by them to become aggressors. They attacked the 
Ku Klux before receiving from them any provoca- 
tion. The negroes formed organizations of a mili- 
tary character and drilled by night, and even ap- 
peared in the day armed and threatening. The 
avowed purpose of these organizations was ^^to 
make war upon and exterminate the Ku Klux.'^ 
On several occasions the Klan was fired into. The 
effect of such attacks was to provoke counter hos- 
tility from the Klan; and so there was irritation 
and counterirritation, until, in some places, the 
state of things was little short of open warfare. 
In some respects it was worse; the parties wholly 
misunderstood each other. Each party felt that 
its cause was the just one. Each justified its deed 
by the provocation. 

The Ku Klux, intending wrong, as they be- 
lieved, to no one, were aggrieved that acts which 
they had not done should be charged to them and 
motives which they did not entertain imputed to 



Historic Pulaski. 57 

them, and were outraged that they should be mo- 
lested and assaulted. The other party, satisfied 
that they were acting in self-defense, felt fully jus- 
tified in assaulting them, and so each goaded the 
other on from one degree of exasperation to an- 
other. 

The following extracts from a general order of 
the Grand Dragon of the Eealm of Tennessee will 
illustrate the operation of both of these causes. It 
was issued in the fall of the year 1868. It shows 
what were the principles and objects which the 
Klan still professed, and it also shows how it was 
being forced away from them : 

General Order No. 1. 

Headquarters Realm "No. 1, 
Dreadful Era, Black Epoch, Dreadful Hour. 

Whereas information of an authentic character has 
reached these headquarters that the blacks in the 
counties of Marshall, Maury, Giles, and Lawrence 
are organized into military companies, with the 
avowed purpose to make war upon and exterminate 
the Ku Klux Klan, said blacks are hereby solemnly 
warned and ordered to desist from further action in 
such organizations, if they exist. 

The G. D. [Grand Dragon] regrets the necessity 
of such an order. But this Klan shall not be out- 
raged and interfered with by lawless negroes and 
meaner white men, who do not and never have un- 
derstood our purposes. 

In the first place, this Klan is not an institution 



S8 Historic PulaskI 

of violence, lawlessness, and cruelty; it is not lawless; 
it is not aggressive; it is not military; it is not revo- 
lutionary. It is essentially, originally, and inherent- 
ly a protective organization. It proposes to execute 
law instead of resisting it; and to protect all good 
men, whether white or black, from the outrages and 
atrocities of had men of both colors, who have been 
for the past three years a terror to society and an in- 
jury to us all. 

The blacks seem to be impressed with the belief 
that this Klan is especially their enemy. We are not 
the enemy of the blacks as long as they behave them- 
selves, make no threats upon us, and do not attack 
or interfere with us. But if they make war upon us, 
they abide the awful retribution that will follow. 

This Klan, while in its peaceful movements and 
disturbing no one, has been fired into three times. 
This will not be endured any longer; and if it occurs 
again and the parties be discovered, a remorseless 
vengeance will be wreaked upon them. 

We reiterate that we are for peace and law and or- 
der. No man, white or black, shall be molested for 
his political sentiments. This Klan Is not a political 
party; it is not a military party; it is a protective 
organization, and will never use violence except in re- 
sisting violence. 

Outrages have been perpetrated by irresponsible 
parties in the name of this Klan. Should such par- 
ties be apprehended, they will be dealt with in a man- 
ner to insure us future exemption from such imposi- 
tion. These impostors have, in some instances, 
whipped negroes. This is wrong, wrong! It is de- 
nounced by this Klan, as it must be by all good and 
humane men. 



Historic Pulaski. 59 

The Klan now, as in the past, is prohibited from 
doing such things. We are striving to protect all 
good, peaceful, well-disposed and law-abiding men, 
whether white or black. 

The G. D. deems this order due to the public, due 
to the Klan, and due to those who are misguided and 
misinformed. We therefore request that all news- 
papers who are friendly to law and peace and the pul> 
lie welfare will publish the same. 

By order of the G. D. Realm No. 1. 
By the Grand Scribe. 

This order doubtless expresses the principles 
which the Klan, as a body, was honestly trying to 
maintain. It also illustrates how they were driven 
to violate them by the very earnestness and ve- 
hemence with which they attempted to maintain 
them. 

The question naturally arises, Why, under the 
embarrassing circumstances, did not the Klan 
disband and close its operations? The answer is 
that the members felt that there was now more rea- 
sons than ever for the Klan's existence. They felt 
that they ought not to abandon their important 
and needful work because they encountered unfore- 
seen difficulties in accomplishing it. It is an illus- 
tration of the fatuity, which sometimes marks the 
lives of men, that they do not perceive what seems 
perfectly clear and plain to others. Nothing is 
more certain than that a part of the evils which the 
Klan was combating at this period of its history 



60 HisTOEic Pulaski. 

grew out of their own methods, and might be ex- 
pected to continue as long as the Klan existed. 
Men are not always wise. But even in cases where 
their conduct does not permit of vindication and 
excuse, justice requires that a fair and truthful 
statement be made of the temptations and embar- 
rassments which surrounded them. Placing all the 
circumstances before us fully, who of us is pre- 
pared to say that we would have acted with more 
wisdom and discretion than these men ? 

Matters grew worse and worse, until it was im- 
peratively necessary that there should be interfer- 
ence on the part of the government. In Septem- 
ber, 1868, the Legislature of Tennessee, in obedi- 
ence to the call of Governor Brownlow, assembled 
in extra session and passed a most stringent and 
bloody anti-Ku Klux statute. This was the cul- 
mination of a long series of the most infamous 
legislations which ever disgraced a statute book. 
It began in 1865, as we have seen, in the passage 
of the alien and sedition act, and grew worse and 
worse until the passage of the anti-Ku Klux stat- 
ute in 1868. Forty years have passed since then, 
and many into whose hands this book will come 
have never seen the anti-Ku Klux law. We 
quote it entire to show the character of the legisla- 
tion of those times, as well as for the sake of its 
bearing on the matter in hand : 



HisTOEic Pulaski. 61 

Sectioit 1. Be it enacted hy the General Assembly 
of Tennessee, That if any person or persons shall 
unite with, associate with, promote or encourage any 
secret organization of persons who shall prowl 
through the country or towns of this State, by day 
or by night, disguised or otherwise, for the purpose 
of disturbing the peace or alarming the peaceable 
citizens of any portion of this State, on conviction 
by any tribunal of this State, shall be fined not less 
than five hundred dollars, imprisoned in the peni- 
tentiary not less than five years, and shall be ren- 
dered infamous. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the 
duty of all the courts in this State, before the im- 
paneling of any grand jury or petit jury in any cause 
whatever, to inquire of the juror on oath whether he 
shall be associated in any way obnoxious to the first 
section of this act; and if such juror shall decline to 
give a voluntary answer, or shall answer affirmative- 
ly, such person shall be disqualified as a juror in any 
case in any court in this State. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That, for the purpose 
of facilitating the execution of the provisions of this 
act, it shall be the duty of the prosecuting attorneys 
of this State or grand jurors, or either of them, to 
summons or cause to be summoned any person he 
shall have a well-grounded belief has any knowledge 
of such organization as described by the first section 
of this act; and if any person shall fail or refuse to 
obey such summons, or shall appear and refuse to 
testify, such persons so summoned shall suffer the 
penalty imposed by the first section of this act; and 
if such witness shall avoid the service of said subpoena 
or summons, the sheriff or other officer shall return 



62 HisTOKic Pulaski. 

such fact on said process, when the court shall order 
a copy of said process to be left at the last place of 
residence of such persons sought to be summoned; 
and if such person shall fail to appear according to 
the command of said process, said court shall enter a 
judgment nisi against such person for the sum of five 
hundred dollars, for which sci. fa. shall issue, as in 
other cases of forfeiture of subpoena. 

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That no prosecutor 
shall be required on any indictment under the pro- 
visions of this act, and all the courts of the State 
shall give a remedial construction to the same; and 
that no presentment or indictment shall be quashed 
or declared insufficient for want of form. 

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the 
duty of all the courts of this State, at every term, for 
two years from and after the passage of this act, to 
call before it all the officers thereof, who shall be 
sworn and have this act read or explained to them; 
and the court shall ask said officers if they shall 
have any knowledge of any person of the State or 
out of it that shall be guilty of any of the offenses 
contained in this act; and that, if at any time they 
shall come in such knowledge or shall have a well- 
grounded belief that any person or persons shall be 
guilty of a violation of this act or any of its pro- 
visions, they will immediately inform the prose- 
cuting attorney for the State thereof; and if such 
prosecuting attorney, upon being so informed, shall 
fail, refuse, or neglect to prosecute such person or 
persons so informed on, he shall be subject to the 
same penalties imposed by the first section of this act, 
and shall be stricken from the roll of attorneys in 
said court. 



Historic Pulaski. 63 

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That if any ofl&cer or 
other person shall inform any other person that he 
or she is to be summoned as a witness under any of 
the provisions of this act, or any other statute or law 
of this State, with the intent and for the purpose of 
defeating any of the provisions of this act or any 
criminal law of this State; or if any oflEicer, clerk, 
sheriff, or constable shall refuse or fail to perform 
any of the duties imposed by this act, upon conviction, 
shall suffer the penalties by the first section of this 
act, and shall be disqualified from holding office in 
this State for two years. 

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That if any person 
shall voluntarily inform on any person guilty of any 
of the provisions of this act, upon conviction, such 
informant shall be entitled to and receive one-half of 
the fine imposed; and if any oflacer, three-fourths. 

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That if any person, 
guilty of any of the provisions or offenses enumerated 
in this act, that shall appear before any jury or pros- 
ecuting officer of the State, and shall inform him or 
them of any offense committed by any person or per- 
sons against the criminal laws of this State, such 
person or witness shall not be bound to answer to any 
charge for the violations of any provisions of any law 
about which such person or witness shall be exam- 
ined; and the court shall protect such witness from 
any prosecution whatever. 

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That where any proc- 
ess shall be issued against the person of any citizen 
in any county of this State for any violation of the 
provisions of this act, and such shall be returned not 
executed, for any cause whatever, by the sheriff or 
other officer, to the court from which it v/as issued. 



64 HisTOKio Pulaski. 

with an afladavit appended thereto, plainly setting 
forth the reason for the nonexecution of such process, 
then it shall be the duty of the clerk, without delay, 
to issue an alias capias to the same county, if the 
home of the defendant shall be in said county, either 
in part or in whole, when said sheriff or other officer 
shall give notice to the inhabitants of said county by 
posting such notice at the courthouse of said county 
of the existence of said capias; and if the inhabitants 
of such county shall permit such defendant to be or 
to live in said county, in part or in whole, the in- 
habitants shall be subject to an assessment of not 
less than five hundred dollars nor more than five 
thousand dollars, at the discretion of the court, which 
said assessment shall be made in the following man- 
ner — to wit: When the sheriff or other officer shall 
return his alias capias, showing that said defendant 
is an inhabitant of said county, in part or in whole, 
and the citizens thereof have failed or refused to ar- 
rest said defendant, which every citizen is hereby 
authorized to do or perform, said court shall order 
sci. /a. to issue to the proper officer to make known 
to the chairman, judge, or other presiding officer of 
the County Court to appear and show cause why final 
judgment should not have been entered up accord- 
ingly, which, if any County Court fails or refuses to 
do and perform, any judge, in vacation, shall grant 
a mandamus to compel said County Court to assess 
and collect said assessment, to be paid into the State 
treasury for the benefit of the school fund; provided, 
that said assessment shall not be made of the sheriff 
or other officer, upon the return of the original or 
alias writs, show cause why the same cannot be exe- 



Historic Pulaski. 65 

cuted, which may be done by his affidavit and two 
respectable witnesses known to the court as such. 

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, That all the inhab- 
itants in this State shall be authorized to arrest any 
person defendant, under the provisions of this act, in 
any county in this State, without process. 

Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, That if any person 
or persons shall write, publish, advise, entreat, or 
persuade, privately or publicly, any class of persons 
or any individual to resist any of the laws of this 
State calculated to molest or disturb the good people 
and peaceable citizens of the State, such persons 
shall be subject to the penalties of the first section 
of this act; and if an attorney at law, he shall be 
stricken from the roll of attorneys and be prevented 
from ;practicing in any court in this State. 

Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That if any person 
shall make threats against any elector or person au- 
thorized to exercise the elective franchise with the 
intention of intimidating or preventing such person 
or persons from attending any election in this State, 
they shall be subject to the penalties inflicted by the 
first section of this act. 

Sec. 13. Be it further enacted, That if any person 
or persons shall attempt to break up any election in 
this State, or advise the same to be done, with a view 
of preventing the lawful or qualified citizens of this 
State from voting, they shall be subject to the penal- 
ties prescribed by the first section of this act; and the 
attorney of the State, in all convictions under the pro- 
visions of this act, shall be entitled to a tax fee of one 
hundred dollars, to be taxed in the bill of costs and 
to be paid by the defendant. And the attorney prose- 
cuting for the State shall keep all information given 
5 



66 Historic Pulaski. 

him a secret, unless it shall be necessary, in the opin- 
ion of the court, that the same should be made public. 

Sec. 14. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the 
duty of all the judges in this State to read this act to 
the grand juries and give it especially in charge to 
said juries. 

Sec. 15. Be it further enacted, That the Treasurer 
of this State shall not be authorized to pay any judge 
in this State any salary, or to any clerk, sheriff, or 
attorney any fee or bill of cost that may accrue to 
such parties under the provisions of this act until 
such judge or other oflBcer shall have filed with the 
Comptroller or Treasurer an affidavit plainly setting 
forth that he has fully complied with the provisions 
of this act. 

Sec. 16. Be it further enacted, That if any person 
or citizen of this State shall voluntarily feed or lodge 
or entertain or conceal in the woods or elsewhere any 
offender known to such person to be charged with 
any criminal offense under this act, such person shall 
suffer the penalty prescribed by the first section of 
this act; provided, that this section shall not apply 
to persons who, under the ancient law, might feed or 
conceal the party charged. 

Sec. 17. Be it further enacted, That if any person 
guilty of any of the offenses enumerated in this act 
shall have, own, or possess any real estate held by 
deed or grant or entry or by fee or entail in law or 
equity, the same shall be bound for costs, fines, or 
penalties imposed by any of the provisions of this 
act; and a lien is hereby declared to attach to all 
estates in law or equity, as above, dating from the 
day or night of the commission of the offense, which 
fact may be found by the jury trying the cause, or any 



HisTOEic Pulaski. 67 

other jury impaneled for that purpose; and if, in the 
opinion of the court, the defendant has evaded the 
law, the jury shall find such fact, and the estate of 
the defendant shall be made liable for the costs of the 
State, and there shall be no limitation to the recovery 
of the same. 

Sec. 18. Be it further enacted, That if any person 
or persons shall be guilty of a violation of any of the 
provisions of this act, to the prejudice or injury of 
any individual, the jury trying the defendant shall, 
or may, find such fact with the amount of injury sus- 
tained, which shall be paid to the injured party or 
person entitled to the same by the laws of descent of 
this State, with all costs, and who shall have the 
same lien on the property of the defendant that is 
possessed or given to the State by this act. 

Sec. 19. Be it further enacted, That if any person 
shall knowingly make or cause to be made any uni- 
form or regalia, in part or in whole, by day or by 
night, or shall be found in possession of the same, he, 
she, or they shall be fined, at the discretion of the 
court, and shall be rendered infamous. 

Sec. 20. Be it further enacted. That, in addition to 
the oath prescribed by the Constitution and oath of 
office, every public officer shall swear that he has 
never been a member of the organization known as 
the Ku Klux Klan or other disguised body of men 
contrary to the laws of the State, and that he has 
neither directly nor indirectly aided, encouraged, sup- 
ported, or in any manner countenanced said organiza- 
tion. 

Sec. 21. Be it further enacted. That the attorneys 
or prosecuting officers for the State shall be entitled 
to and receive five per cent on all forfeitures or as- 



68 HisTOEic Pulaski. 

sessments made by this act on compensations to be 
paid by the defendant. 

Sec. 22. Be it further enacted, That the standard 
of damages for injuries to individuals shall be as 
follows: For disturbing any of the officers of the 
State or other person, by entering the house or 
houses or place of residence of any such individual in 
the night in a hostile manner or against his will, the 
sum of ten thousand dollars; and it shall be lawful 
for the person so assailed to kill the assailant. For 
killing any individual in the night, twenty thousand 
dollars; provided such person killed was peaceable at 
that time. That all other injuries shall be assessed 
by the court and jury in proportion; and the court 
trying said causes may grant as many new trials as 
may, in his opinion, be necessary to attain the end of 
justice. 

Sec. 23. Be it further enacted, That all persons 
present, and not giving immediate information on 
the offenders, shall be regarded as guilty of a mis- 
demeanor against the law, and shall be punished ac- 
cordingly. 

Sec. 24. Be it further enacted, That it shall not be 
lawful for any persons to publish any proffered or 
pretended order of said secret, unlawful clans; and 
any person convicted under any of the provisions of 
this act shall not claim, hold, or possess any property, 
real or personal, exempt from execution, fine, pen- 
alty, or costs under this act; provided, that nothing 
herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent 
or exempt any person heretofore guilty of any of the 
offenses herein contained from prosecution under the 
law as it now stands. This act to take effect from 
and after its passage. 



Historic Pulaski. 69 

The same legislature passed a bill authorizing 
the Governor to organize, equip, and call into ac- 
tive service, at his discretion, a volunteer force to 
be known as the Tennessee State Guards, to be 
composed of one or more regiments from each Con- 
gressional district of the State; provided, always, 
that said Tennessee State Guards shall be com- 
posed of loyal men. 

And it was further provided by the ^^Militia 
Law'' that, upon the representation of "ten Union 
men or three Justices of the Peace in any county 
in the State," that the presence of these troops was 
needed, the Governor might declare martial law 
in such counties, and send thither troops in such 
numbers as, in his judgment, were necessary for 
the preservation of peace and order. And it was 
provided that the expense of these troops to the 
State should be collected from the counties where 
they were quartered. 

The reader has now some insight into the char- 
acter of the legislation directed against the Ku 
Klux. He will not only note the general severity 
and harshness of it, but the following features in 
particular: (1) the anti-Ku Klux statute was ex 
post facto, as expressly declared by Section 24 of it. 
(2) It presented no way in which a man could re- 
lieve himself from liability to it, except by turn- 
ing informer, and as an inducement to do this a 



70 Historic Pulaski. 

large bribe was offered. (3) It encouraged strife 
by making every inhabitant of the State an officer 
extraordinary with power "to arrest without proc- 
ess" when he had ground to suspect. (4) It must 
be remembered that in those days in Tennessee "to 
be loyal" had a very limited meaning. It meant 
simply to be a subservient tool and supporter of 
Governor Brownlow. If a man was not that, no 
matter what his past record or what his political 
opinion, he was not "loyal." (5) While the law 
professed to be aimed at the suppression of all law- 
lessness, it was not so construed and enforced by 
the party in power. The Union or Loyal League 
was never molested, though this organization 
met frequently, and its members appeared by day 
and by night, armed, threatening, and molest- 
ing the life and property of as peaceable and quiet 
citizens as any in the State. No attempt was ever 
made to arrest men except in Ku Klux disguises. 
But, as before remarked, there is no instance on 
record of a Ku Klux being arrested, tried, and con- 
victed. Invariably the party arrested while depre- 
dating as Ku Klux turned out to be, when stripped 
of their disguises, "loyal" men. 

In some sections of the State a perfect reign of 
terror followed this anti-Ku Klux statute. The 
members of the Klan were now in the attitude of 
men fighting for life and liberty. Hundreds, per- 



Historic Pulaski. 71 

haps thousands, of them were not lawbreakers and 
did not desire to be. There had been no law 
against association with the Klan; they had con- 
ceived and done no wrong during their connection 
with it. They had had no participation in or 
knowledge of the excesses in which some of the 
Klan had indulged or were charged with having 
indulged in. But now their previous connection 
with the Klan was made a penal offense ; and tliey 
had no hope except on terms which, to men of hon- 
or and right principle, were more odious than 
death. 

These men were made infamous, made liable to 
fine and imprisonment, exposed to arrest without 
process by any malicious negro or mean white man, 
and even their wives and children were outlawed 
and exposed to the same indignities; and it is no 
strange thing if they were driven to the very verge 
of desperation. It is not denied that they did 
many things for which the world has been exceed- 
ingly slow to accept apology or excuse. But his- 
tory is challenged to furnish an instance of a peo- 
ple bearing gross wrong and brutal outrage perpe- 
trated in the name of law and loyalty with pa- 
tience, forbearance, or forgiveness comparable to 
that exhibited by the people of the Southern States, 
and especially of Tennessee, during what is called 
the "Reconstruction Period" and since. There 



72 Historic Pulaski. 

may be in their conduct some things to regret and 
some to condemn; but he who gets a full under- 
standing of their surroundings — social, civil, and 
political — if he is not incapable of noble senti- 
ment, will also find many things to awaken his 
sympathy and call forth his admiration. 



DiSBANDMENT. 

On February 20, 1869, Governor Brownlow re- 
signed his position as Governor to take the seat in 
the United States Senate to which he had been 
elected. The last paper to which he affixed his sig- 
nature as Governor of Tennessee proclaimed mar- 
tial law in certain counties and ordered troops to 
be sent thither. This proclamation was dated 
February 2, 1869. In a short while it was followed 
by a proclamation from the "Grand Wizard of the 
Invisible Empire" to his subjects. This procla- 
mation recited the legislation directed against the 
Klan, and stated that the order had now, in large 
measure, accomplished the objects of its existence. 
At a time when the civil law afforded inadequate 
protection to life and property, when robbery and 
lawlessness of every description were unrebuked, 
when all the better elements of society were in con- 
stant dread for the safety of their property, per- 
sons, and families the Klan had afforded protec- 
tion and security to many firesides and in many 
ways contributed to the public welfare. But great- 
ly to the regret of all good citizens, some members 
of the Klan had violated positive orders; others, 
under the name and disguises of the organization, 

(73) 



•^4 Historic Pulaski. 

had assumed to do acts of violence for which the 
Klan was held responsible. The Grand Wizard 
had been invested with the power to determine ques- 
tions of paramount importance to the interests of 
the order. Therefore, in the exercise of that pow- 
er, the Grand Wizard declared that the organiza- 
tion heretofore known as the Ku Klux Klan was 
dissolved and disbanded. Members were directed 
to burn all regalia and paraphernalia of every de- 
scription and to desist from any further assemblies 
or acts as Ku Klux. The members of the Klan 
were counseled in the future, as heretofore, to assist 
all good people of the land in maintaining and up- 
holding the civil laws and in putting down law- 
lessness. This proclamation was directed to all 
realms, dominions, provinces, and dens in the 
"Empire." It is reasonably certain that there were 
portions of the "Empire'^ never reached. The 
Klan was widely scattered, and the facilities for 
communication were exceedingly poor. The Grand 
Wizard was a citizen of Tennessee. Under the 
statute just now quoted newspapers were forbidden 
to publish anything emanating from the Klan ; so 
that there was no way in which this proclamation 
could be generally disseminated. Where it was 
promulgated, obedience to it was prompt and im- 
plicit. Whether obeyed or not, this proclamation 
terminated the Klan's organized existence as de- 



SisTORic Pulaski. 'J'5 

cisively and completely as General Lee's last gen- 
eral order, on the morning of April 10, 1865, dis- 
banded the Army of Northern Virginia. 

When the office of Grand Wizard was created 
and its duties defined, it was explicitly provided 
that he should have "the power to determine ques- 
tions of paramount importance, and his decision 
shall be final." To continue the organization or to 
disband it was such a question. He decided in fa- 
vor of disbanding, and so ordered. Therefore the 
Ku Klux Klan had no organized existence after 
March, 1869. 

The report of the Congressional Investigating 
Committee contains some disreputable history 
which belongs to a later date, and is attributed to 
the Klan, but not justly so. For several years 
after March, 1869, the papers reported and com- 
mented on "Ku Klux outrages" committed at va- 
rious points. The authors of these outrages may 
have acted in the name of the Klan and under its 
disguises; it may be that in some cases they were 
men who had been Ku Klux. But it cannot be 
charged that they were acting by the authority of 
an order which had formally disbanded. They 
were acting on their own responsibility. 

Thus lived and so died this strange order. Its 
birth was an accident, its growth was a comedy, 
its death a tragedy. It owed its existence wholly 



76 Historic Pulaski. 

to the anomalous condition of social and civil af- 
fairs in the South during the years immediately 
succeeding the unfortunate contest in which so 
many brave men in blue and gray fell, martyrs to 
their convictions. There never was, before or 
since, a period of our history when such an order 
could have lived. May there never be again ! 

When the mission of the Ku Klux Klan in re- 
claiming the South from the carpetbag rule had 
been finished, the disbanding of its members was 
attended with weird ceremonies still fresh in the 
memory of many of its faithful men. Perhaps the 
most unique and weird of all the ceremonies at- 
tended the disbanding of the Nashville Den, led 
by John W. Morton, ex- Secretary of State, who 
lived in Davidson County. The last act of the real 
Klan was a warning to the spurious Klan, organ- 
ized for lawlessness, by marching through the 
streets of Nashville. 

The original Klan was organized to protect the 
homes and the liberties of the South. White, the 
symbol of purity, was the most appropriate color 
of their uniforms. After their work was done and 
they had disbanded by order of General Forrest, 
some reckless firebrands, who had private hatreds 
to appease, organized bands of night riders, and 
had the audacity to call themselves the Ku Klux 
Klan. Some strange sense of the eternal fitness of 



Historic Pulaski. 'i'Y 

things, however, made them discard the white 
robes of the real Klan and don flaming red, which 
has always been the badge of bloodshed, of an- 
archy, and of disorder. No wonder that their evil 
deeds inspired a temporary reign of terror until 
they were wiped out of existence ! For a time the 
story of their crimes was attached to the real Ku 
Klux Klan, but as time passed even the people of 
the North learned to distinguish between the real 
and the bogus Klans. 

The order for the dissolution of the Klan issued 
by General Forrest was in every way characteristic 
of the man. When the whites had redeemed six 
Southern States from the negro rule, in 1870, the 
Grand Wizard knew that his mission was accom- 
plished and issued an order at once that the Klan 
be disbanded. The execution of this order by John 
W. Morton, the Cyclops of the Nashville Den, also 
of the Grand Wizard, is typical of what happened 
throughout the South. 

Thirty-five picked men, mounted, armed, and in 
full Ku Klux regalia for both horses and men, 
were selected for the ceremony and ordered to 
boldly parade through the streets of Nashville. 
The capital was in charge of 3,000 Eeconstruction 
militia and 200 metropolitan police, who had 
sworn to take every Ku Klux Klansman, dead or 
alive, who dared show himself abroad. On the 



78 Historic Pulaski. 

night appointed a squadron of thirty-five white 
and scarlet Klansmen moved out of the woods and 
bore down upon the city. The streets were soon 
crowded with people watching the strange proces- 
sion of ghostlike figures. On the principal streets 
police blew their whistles and darted here and there 
in great excitement, but made no move to stop the 
daredevil paraders. 

On they rode up the hill and passed the Capitol, 
around which the camp fires of a thousand soldiers 
burned brightly, and not a hand was lifted against 
them. They turned south into High Street, now 
Sixth Avenue. Along the line of march ladies 
waved their handkerchiefs from windows and men 
shouted suppressed oaths. 

Before the Klansmen reached Broad Street the 
police began to summon citizens to aid in their ar- 
rest. On reaching Broad Street, John Morton, who 
rode at the head of the squadron, observed a line of 
police drawn across the street with the evident in- 
tention to stop or arrest the riders. Turning to 
Mart N". Brown, a gallant Klansman, who rode by 
his side, Morton said: "What shall we do, Mart?^^ 

"Turn into Vine Street," he quickly answered, 
"and pass around them." 

"No," came an order from Morton, "ride straight 
through without a change of gait." 

And they did. The astonished police, dumb- 



HisTOKic Pulaski. 79 

founded at the boldness of the strange men, opened 
their lines, and the white horsemen rode slowly- 
through without a word. 

In their last march down Broad Street they 
passed a frame building used as a carpetbag mili- 
tary armory. It was full of negroes. Directly in 
front of the building Morton halted his line of 
white figures, drew them up at dress parade, rode 
up to the door and knocked. The negroes rushed 
to the doors and windows, and seeing in the bright 
moonlight the grim figures of the dreaded Klan, 
they forgot the 200 friendly police and the 3,000 
Reconstruction soldiers guarding Nashville. Mak- 
ing a wild and disorderly break for the rear, they 
went out through every opening without knowledge 
of any obstruction. Many of them wore window 
sashes home for collars. 

Wheeling again into double column, the Ivlans- 
men silently rode away to their old rendezvous. 
Their mission was at an end. They had over- 
thrown the carpetbaggers' regime and restored 
home rule. Their last act was a warning. 

Outside the city they entered the shadows of the 
forest. Down its dim aisles, lit by threads of 
moonlight, the horsemen slowly wound their way 
to the appointed place. For the last time the 
chaplain led in prayer. The men disrobed, and, 
drawing from each horse his white mantle, opened 



80 HisTOEic Pulaski. 

a grave and silently buried their regalia, sprink- 
ling the folds with the ashes of a copy of their 
burned ritual. In this weird ceremony ended the 
most remarkable revolution in history. 

We here append the original Prescript and the 
cypher code used by the Klan in secret correspond- 
ence, neither of which has ever been published be- 
fore, and no copy is known to exist except the origi- 
nals here reproduced. 



Historic Pulaski. 81 



'Damnant quod non intelligunt." [1 

PRESCRIPT 
OP THE 

***** 



What may this mean, 
That thou, dead corse, again, in complete steel, 
Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon. 
Making night hideous; and we fools of nature. 
So horridly to shake our disposition, 
With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? 



An' now auld Cloots, I ken y«'re thinkin', 
A certain Ghoul is rantin', drinkin'. 
Some luckless night will send him linkin'. 

To your black pit; 
But, faith! he'll turn a corner jinkin'. 

An' cheat you yet. 



82 Historic Pulaski. 



2] Amici humani generis. 

CREED. 

We, the * * , reverently acknowledge 
the Majesty and Supremacy of the Divine Being, 
and recognize the Goodness and Providence of the 
Same. 

PREAMBLE. 

We recognize our relations to the United States 
Government, and acknowledge the supremacy of 
its laws. 

APPELLATIOISr. 

Article I. This organization shall he styled and 
denominated the * * 

titles. 

Art. II. The officers of this * shall consist of 
a Grand Wizard of the Empire and his ten Genii, 
a Grand Dragon of the Realm and his eight Hy- 
dras, a Grand Titan of the Dominion and his six 
Furies, a Grand Giant of the Province and his four 
Goblins, a Grand Cyclops of the Den and his two 
Night Hawks^ a Grand Magi, a Grand Monk, a Grand 
Exchequer, a Grand Turk, a Grand Scribe, a Grand 
Sentinel, and a Grand Ensign. 

Sec. 2. The body politics of this * shall be des- 
ignated and known as "Ghouls." 

DIVISIONS. 

Art. III. This * shall be divided into five de- 
partments, all combined, constituting the Grand 

* of the Empire. The second department to be 
called the Grand * of the Realm. The third, the 
Grand * of 'the Dominion. The fourth, the Grand 

* of the Province. The fifth, the * of the Den. 

DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 
GRAND WIZARD. 

Art. IV. Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of the Grand 
Wizard, who is the Supreme Officer of the Empire, 
to communicate with and receive reports from the 

Magna est Veritas, et prcevalebit. 



HisTOKic Pulaski. 83 



Nee scire fas est omnia. [3 

Grand Dragons of Realms, as to the condition, 
strength, efficiency and progress of the *s 
within their respective Realms. And he shall com- 
municate from time to time, to all subordinate *s, 
through the Grand Dragons, the condition, strength, 
efficiency, and progress of the *s throughout his vast 
Empire; and such other information as he may deem 
expedient to impart. And it shall further be his du- 
ty to keep by his G. Scribe a list of the names (with- 
out any caption or explanation whatever) of the Grand 
Dragons of the different Realms of his Empire, and 
shall number such Realms with the Arabic nume- 
rals, 1, 2, 3, &c., ad finem. And he shall instruct 
his Grand Exchequer as to the appropriation and 
disbursement which he shall make of the revenue 
of the * that comes to his hands. He shall have 
the sole power to issue copies of this Prescript, 
through his Subalterns and Deputies, for the organ- 
ization and establishment of subordinate *s. And 
he shall have the further power to appoint his Ge- 
nii; also, a Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer 
for his Department, and to appoint and ordain 
Special Deputy Grand Wizards to assist him in the 
more rapid and effectual dissemination and estab- 
lishment of the * throughout his Empire. He is 
further empowered to appoint and instruct Depu- 
ties, to organize and control Realms, Dominions, 
Provinces, and Dens, until the same shall elect a 
Grand Dragon, a Grand Titan, a Grand Giant, and 
a Grand Cyclops, in the manner hereinafter provid- 
ed. And when a question of paramount impor- 
tance to the interest or prosperity of the * arises, 
not provided for in this Prescript, he shall have 
power to determine such question, and his decision 
shall be final, until the same shall be provided for 
by amendment as hereinafter provided. 

Ne vile fano. 



84 HisTOEio Pulaski. 



4] Ars est celare artem. 

Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Grand Dragon 
who is the Chief Oflacer of the Realm, to report to 
the Grand Wizard when required by that oflacer, 
the condition, strength, eflaciency, and progress of 
the * within his Realm, and to transmit through 
the Grand Titan to the subordinate *s of his Realm, 
all information or intelligence conveyed to him by 
the Grand Wizard for that purpose, and all such oth- 
er information or instruction as he may think will 
promote the interests of the *s. He shall keep by his 
G. Scribe a list of the names (without any caption) 
of the Grand Titans of the different Dominions of 
his Realm, and shall report the same to the Grand 
Wizard when required; and shall number the Do- 
minions of his Realm with the Arabic numerals, 1, 
2, 3, &c., ad finem,. He shall instruct his Grand 
Exchequer as to the appropriation and disburse- 
ment of the revenue of the * that comes to his 
hands. He shall have the power to appoint his 
Hydras; also, a Grand Scribe and a Grand Excheq- 
uer for his Department, and to appoint and ordain 
Special Deputy Grand Dragons to assist him in the 
more rapid and effectual dissemination and estab- 
lishment of the * throughout his Realm. He is 
further empowered to appoint and instruct Depu- 
ties to organize and control Dominions, Provinces 
and Dens, until the same shall elect a Grand Titan, 
a Grand Giant, and Grand Cyclops, in the manner 
hereinafter provided. 

GRAND TITAN. 

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Grand Titan 
who is the Chief Officer of the Dominion, to report 
to the Grand Dragon when required by that officer, 
the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of 
the * within his Dominion, and to transmit, 
through the Grand Giants to the subordinate *s 

Nusquam tuta fides. 



HiSTOEIC PULASKi. SS 



Quid faciendum? [5 

of his Dominion, all information or intelligence con- 
veyed to him by the Grand Dragon for that pur- 
pose, and all such other information or instruction 
as he may think will enhance the interests of the *. 
He shall keep, by his G. Scribe, a list of the names 
(without caption) of the Grand Giants of the differ- 
ent Provinces of his Dominion, and shall report the 
same to the Grand Dragon when required; and he 
shall number the Provinces of his Dominion with 
the Arabic numerals, 1, 2, 3, &c., ad finem. And he 
shall instruct and direct his Grand Exchequer as to 
the appropriation and disbursement of the revenue 
of the * that comes to his hands. He shall have 
power to appoint his Furies; also to appoint a Grand 
Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his department, 
and appoint and ordain Special Deputy Grand Ti- 
tans to assist him in the more rapid and effectual 
dissemination and establishment of the * through- 
out his Dominion. He shall have further power to 
appoint and instruct Deputies to organize and con- 
trol Provinces and Dens, until the same shall elect 
a Grand Giant and a Grand Cyclops, in the manner 
hereinafter provided. 

GRAND GIANT. 

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Grand Giant, 
who is the Chief Officer of the Province, to super- 
vise and administer general and special instruc- 
tion in the formation and establishment of *s 
within his Province, and to report to the Grand 
Titan, when required by that officer, the condition, 
strength, progress and efficiency of the * through- 
out his Province, and to transmit, through, the 
Grand Cyclops, to the subordinate *s of his Prov- 
ince, all information or intelligence conveyed to 
him by the Grand Titan for that purpose, and such 
other information and instruction as he may think 

Fide non armis. 



86 Historic Pulas:^!. 



5] Fiat justia. 

will advance the interests of tlie *. He shall keep by 
his G. Scribe a list of the names (without caption) of 
the Grand Cyclops of the various Dens of his Prov- 
ince, and shall report the same to the Grand Titan 
when required; and shall number the Dens of his 
Province with the Arabic numerals, 1, 2, 3, &c., ad 
finem. And shall determine and limit the number 
of Dens to be organized in his Province. And he 
shall instruct and direct his Grand Exchequer as to 
what appropriation and disbursement he shall make 
of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. 
He shall have power to appoint his Goblins; also, 
a Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his de- 
partment, and to appoint and ordain Special Depu- 
ty Grand Giants to assist him in the more rapid 
and effectual dissemination and establishment of 
the * throughout his Province. He shall have 
the further power to appoint and instruct Deputies 
to organize and control Dens, until the same shall 
elect a Grand Cyclops in the manner hereinafter 
provided. And in all cases, he shall preside at and 
conduct the Grand Council of Yahoos. 

GRAND CYCLOPS. 

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Grand Cyclops 
to take charge of the * of his Den after his election, 
under the direction and with the assistance (when 
practicable) of the Grand Giant, and in accordance 
with, and in conformity to the provisions of this Pre- 
script, a copy of which shall in all cases be obtained 
before the formation of a * begins. It shall fur- 
ther be his duty to appoint all regular meetings of 
his * and to preside at the same — to appoint irregu- 
lar meetings when he deems it expedient, to preserve 
order in his Den, and to impose fines for irregularities 
or disobedience of orders, and to receive and initiate 
candidates for admission into the * after the same 
shall have been pronounced competent and wor- 

Hic manent vestigia morientis liberatis. 



Historic Pulaski. ^"J^ 



Curae leves loquntur, ingentes stupent. [7 



thy to become members by the Investigating Com- 
mittee. He shall make a quarterly report, to the 
Grand Giant, of the condition, strength and ef- 
ficiency of the * of his Den, and shall convey to 
the Ghouls of his Den, all information or intelli- 
gence conveyed to him by the Grand Giant for that 
purpose, and all such other information or instruc- 
tion as he may think will conduce to the interests 
and welfare of the *. He shall preside at and con- 
duct the Grand Council of Centaurs. He shall have 
power to appoint his Night Hawks, his Grand 
Scribe, his Grand Turk, his Grand Sentinel, and 
his Grand Ensign. And he shall instruct and di- 
rect the Grand Exchequer of his Den, as to what 
appropriation and disbursement he shall make of 
the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. 
And for any small offense he may punish any mem- 
ber by fine, and may reprimand him for the same. 
And he may admonish and reprimand the * of 
his Den for any imprudence, irregularity or trans- 
gression, when he is convinced or advised that the 
interests, welfare and safety of the * demand it. 

GRAND MAGI. 

Sec 6 It shall be the duty of the Grand Magi, 
who is the Second Officer, in authority, of the Den, 
to assist the Grand Cyclops and to obey all the 
proper orders of that officer. To preside at all 
meetings in the Den in the absence of the Grand 
Cyclops; and to exercise during his absence all the 
powers and authority conferred upon that officer. 

GRAND MONK. 

Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the Grand Monk, 
who is the third officer, in authority, of the Den, to 
assist and obey all the proper orders of the Grand 
Cyclops and the Grand Magi. And in the absence 
of both of these officers, he shall preside at and con- 
duct the meet ings in the Den, and shall exercise all 

Dat Deus his quoque finem. 



88 HisTOKic Pulaski. 



8] Cessante causa, cessat effectus. 

the powers and authority conferred upon the Grand 
Cyclops. 

GRAND EXCHEQUER. 

Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Grand Excheq- 
uers of the different Departments of the * to keep 
a correct account of all the revenue of the * that 
shall come to their hands, and shall make no appro- 
priation or disbursement of the same except under 
the orders and direction of the chief officer of their 
respective departments. And it shall further be 
the duty of the Grand Exchequer of Dens to collect 
the initiation fees, and all fines imposed by the 
Grand Cyclops. 

GRAND TURK. 

Sec. 9. It shall be the duty of the Grand Turk, 
who is the Executive Officer of the Grand Cyclops, 
to notify the Ghouls of the Den of all information or 
irregular meetings appointed by the Grand Cyclops, 
and to obey and execute all the lawful orders of that 
officer in the control and government of his Den. 
It shall further be his duty to receive and question 
at the Out Posts, all candidates for admission into 
the *, and shall there administer the preliminary 
obligation required, and then to conduct such can- 
didate or candidates to the Grand Cyclops at his 
Den, and to assist him in the initiation of the same. 
And it shall further be his duty to act as the Ex- 
ecutive officer of the Grand Council of Centaurs. 

GRAND SCRIBE. 

Sec. 10. It shall be the duty of the Grand Scribes 
of the different departments to conduct the corre- 
spondence and write the orders of the chiefs of their 
departments, when required. And it shall further 
be the duty of the Grand Scribes of the Den to keep 
a list of the names (without caption) of the Ghouls 
of the Den — to call the Roll at all regular meetings 
and to make the quarterly report under the direc- 
tion of the Grand Cyclops. 

Droit et avant. 



Historic Pulaski. 89 



Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui. [9 

Sec. 11. It shall be the duty of the Grand Senti- 
nel to detail, take charge of, post and instruct the 
Grand Guard under the direction and orders of the 
Grand Cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss the same 
when directed by that officer. 

GRAND ENSIGN. 

Sec. 12. It shall be the duty of the Grand Ensign 
to take charge of the Grand Banner of the *, to 
preserve it sacredly, and protect it carefully, and to 
bear it on all occasions of parade or ceremony, and 
on such other occasions as the Grand Cyclops may 
direct it to be flung to the night breeze. 

ELECTION OF OFFICEBS. 

Art. V. Sec. 1. The Grand Cyclops, the Grand 
Magi, the Grand Monk, and the Grand Exchequer 
of Dens, shall be elected semi-annually by the 
Ghouls of Dens. And the first election for these 
officers may take place as soon as seven Ghouls have 
been initiated for that purpose. 

Sec. 2. The Grand Wizard of the Empire, the 
Grand Dragons of Realms, the Grand Titans of Do- 
minions, and the Grand Giants of Provinces, shall 
be elected biennially, and in the following man- 
ner, to wit: The Grand Wizard by a majority vote 
of the Grand Dragons of his Empire, the Grand 
Dragons by a like vote of the Grand Titans of his 
Realm; the Grand Titans by a like vote of the 
Grand Giants of his Dominion, and the Grand Gi- 
ant by a like vote of the Grand Cyclops of his Prov- 
ince. 

The first election for Grand Dragon may take 
place as soon as three Dominions have been organ- 
ized in a Realm, but all subsequent elections shall 
be by a majority vote of the Grand Titans through- 
out the Realm, and biennially as aforesaid. 

The first election for Grand Titan may take place 

Dormitur aliquando jus, moritur nunquam. 



96 HisTOEic Pulaski. 



10] Deo adjuvante, non timendum. 

as soon as three Provinces have been organized in a 
Dominion, but all subsequent elections shall be by a 
majority vote of all the Grand Giants throughout 
the Dominion and biennially as aforesaid. 

The first election for Grand Giant may take place 
as soon as three Dens have been organized in a 
Province, but all subsequent elections shall be by a 
majority vote of all the Grand Cyclops throughout 
the Province, and biennially as aforesaid. 

The Grand Wizard of the Empire is hereby cre- 
ated, to serve three years from the First Monday 
in May, 1867, after the expiration of which time, 
biennial elections shall be held for that office as 
aforesaid. And the incumbent Grand Wizard shall 
notify the Grand Dragons, at least six months be- 
fore said election, at what time and place the same 
will be held. 

JUDICIARY. 

Art. VI. Sec. 1. The Tribunal of Justice of this 
* shall consist of a Grand Council of Yahoos, and 
a Grand Council of Centaurs. 

Sec. 2. The Grand Council of Yahoos, shall be 
the Tribunal for the trial of all elected officers, and 
shall be composed of officers of equal rank with the 
accused, and shall be appointed and presided over 
by an officer of the next rank above, and sworn by 
him to administer even-handed justice. The Tribu- 
nal for the trial of the Grand Wizard, shall be com- 
posed of all the Grand Dragons of the Empire, and 
shall be presided over and sworn by the senior 
Grand Dragon. They shall have power to summon 
the accused, and witnesses for and against him, and 
if found guilty they shall prescribe the penalty and 
execute the same. And they shall have power to 
appoint an Executive officer to attend said Council 
while in session. 

Spectemur agendo. 



HisTOEic Pulaski. 91 



Nemo nos impune l acessit. [11 

Sec. 3. The Grand Council of Centaurs shall be 
the Tribunal for the trial of Ghouls and non-elective 
officers, and shall be composed of six judges appoint- 
ed by the Grand Cyclops from the Ghouls of his Den, 
presided over and sworn by him to give the ac- 
cused a fair and impartial trial. They shall 
have power to summon the accused, and wit- 
nesses for and against him, and if found guilty 
they shall prescribe the penalty and execute the 
same. Said judges shall be selected by the Grand 
Cyclops with reference to their intelligence, integri- 
ty and fair-mindedness, and shall render their ver- 
dict without prejudice or partiality. 

EEVENUE. 

Art. VII. Sec. 1. The revenue of this * shall 
be derived as follows: For every copy of this Pre- 
script issued to the *s of Dens, Ten Dollars will 
be required. Two dollars of which shall go into 
the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Gi- 
ant, two into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of 
the Grand Titan, two into the hands of the Grand 
Exchequer of the Grand Dragon, and the remaining 
four into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the 
Grand Wizard. 

Sec. 2. A further source of revenue to the Empire 
shall be ten per cent of all the revenue of the 
Realms, and a tax upon Realms, when the Grand 
Wizard shall deem it necessary and indispensable 
to levy the same. 

Sec. 3. A further source of revenue to Realms 
shall be ten per cent of all the revenue of Domin- 
ions, and a tax upon Dominions when the Grand 
Dragon shall deem such tax necessary and indispen- 
sable. 

Sec. 4. A further source of revenue to Domin- 
ions shall be ten per cent of all the revenue of Prov- 

Patria cara, carior libertas. 



92 HisTOKio Pulaski. 



12] Ad unum omnes. 

inces, and a tax upon Provinces when the Grand 
Titan shall deem such tax necessary and indispen- 
sable. 

Sec. 5. A further source of revenue to Provinces 
shall he ten per cent, on all the revenue of Dens, 
and a tax upon the Dens, when the Grand Giant 
shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. 

Sec. 6. The source of revenue to Dens, shall be 
the initiation fees, fines, and a per capita tax, when- 
ever the Grand Cyclops shall deem such tax indis- 
pensable to the interests and purposes of the *. 

Sec. 7. All of the revenue obtained in the man- 
ner herein aforesaid, shall be for the exclusive ben- 
efit of the *. And shall be appropriated to the 
dissemination of the same, and to the creation of a 
fund to meet any disbursement that it may become 
necessary to make to accomplish the objects of the 
*, and to secure the protection of the same. 

OBLIGATIOTiT. 

Art. VIII. No one shall become a member of 
this * unless he shall take the following oath or 
obligation: 

"I, of my own free will and accord, and in 

the presence of Almighty God, do solemnly swear 
or affirm that I will never reveal to any one, not a 
member of the * * ijy any intimation, sign, 
symbol, word or act, or in any other manner what- 
ever, any of the secrets, signs, grips, passwords, 
mysteries or purposes of the * * , or that I am 
a member of the same or that I know any one who 
is a member, and that I will abide by the Prescript 
and Edicts of the * *. So help me God." 

Sec. 2. The preliminary obligation to be adminis- 
tered before the candidate for admission is taken 
to the Grand Cyclops for examination, shall be as 
follows: 

"I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will never 

Deo duce, ferro comitante. 



HisTOKio Pulaski. 93 



Tempore mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis. [13 

reveal anything that I may this day (or night) 
learn concerning the * *. So help me God." 

ADMISSION. 

Art. IX. Sec. 1. No one shall be presented for 
admission into this *, until he shall have been 
recommended by some friend or intimate, who is sl 
member, to the Investigating Committee, which 
shall be composed of the Grand Cyclops, the Grand 
Magi, and the Grand Monk, and who shall investi- 
gate his antecedents and his past and present stand- 
ing and connections, and if after such investigation, 
they pronounce him competent and worthy to become 
a member, he may be admitted upon taking the ob- 
ligation required and passing through the ceremo- 
nies of initiation. Provided, That no one shall be 
admitted into this * who shall have not attain- 
ed the age of eighteen years. 

Sec. 2. No one shall become a member of a dis- 
tant * when there is a * established and in 
operation in his own immediate vicinity. Nor 
shall any one become a member of any * after 
he shall have been rejected by any other *. 

ENSIGN. 

Art. X. The Grand Banner of this * shall be 
in the form of an isosceles triangle, five feet long 
and three wide at the staff. The material shall be 
yellow, with a red scalloped border, about three 
inches in width. There shall be painted upon it, 
in black, a Dracovolans, or Flying Dragon,t with 
the following motto inscribed above the Dragon, 
"Quod semper, quod ubique, quod ab omnibus."$ 

amendments. 
Art. XI. This Prescript or any part or Edicts 
thereof, shall never be changed except by a two- 

+See Webster's Unabridged Pictorial. 

*""Wliat always, what everywhere, what by all is held to be 
true.*' 

O temporal O mores! 



14] Ad utrumque paratus. 

thirds vote of the Grand Dragons of the Realms, in 
Convention assembled, and at which Convention 
the Grand Wizard shall preside and be entitled to a 
vote. And upon the application of a majority of 
the Grand Dragons, for that purpose, the Grand 
Wizard shall appoint the time and place for said 
Convention; which, when assembled, shall pro- 
ceed to make such modifications and amendment as 
it may think will advance the interest, enlarge the 
utility, and more thoroughly effectuate the purpos- 
es of the *. 

INTERDICTION. 

Art. XII. The origin, designs, mysteries, and 
ritual of this * shall never be written, but the 
same shall be communicated orally. 

REGISTER. 

I. 1st— Dismal. 7th— Dreadful. 
2nd— Dark. 8th— Terrible. 
3rd — Furious. 9th — Horrible. 
4th — Portentous. 10th — Melancholy. 
5th— Wonderful. 11th— Mournful. 
6th — Alarming. 12th — Dying. 

II. I— White. IV— Black. 
II— Green. V— Yellow. 

Ill— Blue. VI— Crimson. 

VII— Purple. 

III. 1— Fearful. 7— Doleful. 
2— Startling. 8— Sorrowful. 
3 — Awful. 9 — Hideous. 
4— Woeful. 10— Frightful. 
5— Horrid. 11 — Appalling. 
6— Bloody. 12— Last. 

EDICTS. 

I. The Initiation Fee of this * shall be one 
dollar, to be paid when the candidate is initiated 
and received into the *. 

II. No member shall be allowed to take any in- 
toxicating spirits to any meeting of the *. Nor 
shall any member be allowed to attend a meeting 
when intoxicated; and for every appearance at a 
meeting in such a cond ition, he shall be fined the 

Cavendo Tutus. 

' (94) ^ -^ 



Historic Pulaski. 95 



Astra Castra, numen lumen. [15 

sum of not less than one nor more than five dollars, 
to go into the revenue of the *. 

III. Any member may be expelled from the * 
by a majority vote of the officers and Ghouls of the 
Den to which he belongs, and if after such expulsion 
such member shall assume any of the duties, rega- 
lia or insignia of the * or in any way claim to be 
a member of the same, he shall be severely punish- 
ed. His obligation of secrecy shall be as binding 
upon him after expulsion as before, and for any 
revelation made by him thereafter, he shall be held 
accountable in the same manner as if he were then 
a member. 

IV. Every Grand Cyclops shall read or cause to 
be read this Prescript and these Edicts to the * 
of his Den, at least once in every three months — 
and shall read them to each new member when he 
is initiated, cr present the same to him for person- 
al perusal. 

V. Each Den may provide itself with the Grand 
Banner of the *. 

VI. The *s of Dens may make such addition- 
al Edicts for their control and government as they 
shall deem requisite and necessary. Provided, No 
Edict shall be made to conflict with any of the pro- 
visions or Edicts of this Prescript. 

VII. The strictest and most rigid secrecy, con- 
cerning any and everything that relates to the * 
shall at all times be maintained. 

VIII. Any member who shall reveal or betray the 
secrets or purposes of this * shall suffer the ex- 
treme penalty of the law. 



Hush, thou art not to utter what 
I am. Bethink thee; it was our covenant. 
I said that I would see thee once again. 

Ne quid detrimenti; Respublica capiat. 



96 HisTOEic Pulaski. 



16] Amici usque ad aras. 

L'ENVOI. 
To the lovers of Law and Order, Peace and Jus- 
tice, we send greeting; and to the shades of the 
venerated Dead, we affectionately dedicate the * *. 

Nos ducit amor libertatis. 



HisTOEio Pulaski. 97 



cJ ■ 



n c c 

ice J ' 

H < { ft ' 

/c V \ ^ • 
/ / / > • 

1 d f 

CYPHER CODE USED BY THE KLAN IN SECRET CORRESPOND- 
ENCE. 



SAM DAVIS : HIS CAPTURE, DEATH, AND 
MONUMENT AT PULASKI. 

BY MES. W. B. ROMINE. 

Pulaski's fame, so fair and white. 
Was blistered with a withering blight; 
For the darkest deed of the four years' strife 
Was the taking here of a fair, young life. 

'Twas a deed which the ages shall not erase, 
'Twas a deed which time cannot efface; 
For 'twas from her own sacred sod 
Sam Davis's soul went home to God. 

I WAS standing a few days since on the now sa- 
cred hillside which overlooks Pulaski and which 
was once the selected place for a sad and awful 
scene. I have been told that on that day in late 
November the skies were gray and overcast, verg- 
ing on tears which later fell in copious showers of 
softest sympathy on the new-made grave of that 
brave boy-martyr, Sam Davis, who had so nobly 
met his fate a few hours earlier. 

All that day, after the heart-rending execution, 

sere brown leaves wet with a dreary rain were 

driven in swirling hosts across the distant hills and 

their deep, dark valleys by a harsh and nipping 

(98) 



Historic Pulaski. 99 

wind which heralded the approach of winter and 
chanted in tones now loud, now low, the requiem 
of the dying year and the dead hero. 

Forty-three years later, as I stood there, the wind 
was again cold as it blew the bright-hued autumn 
leaves, one by one, from the red and gold maples 
which now stand as stately sentinels on the same 
hillside; but a glorious sun bathed the earth and 
sky with splendor, and it seemed that all the beau- 
ties of nature conspired together to flatter and 
adorn the little town which nestled amid the scarlet 
and bronze of the autumn groves. 

Supurb clouds, like snow-white barges with sails 
uplifted, swept across the brilliant blue sea of ether 
above it, and the beech woods which girdle it on 
every side were painted in broad bands of richest 
colors. 

In the valleys the eye traveled through a deep 
magnificence of shade to the sunlight beyond, which 
was falling like our Father's benediction upon the 
gleaming marble of a shaft erected in memory of 
that same young martyr whose soul passed to the 
home of the brave and the blest on that dreary 
November morning. 

As I stood there so filled with exalted memories 
of his loyalty and the lovely characteristics which 
he evinced in every way during his imprisonment 
and at his trial by court-martial and in his match- 



100 HisTOEio Pulaski. 

less death, I almost felt that the spot whereon my 
feet rested was holy ground. 

I fell to thinking of that warm, bright afternoon 
of the long ago when he was making his way out of 
the little town with those prized documents con- 
cealed in the sole of his boot, and of how he was 
overtaken and captured by the Federal officers on 
the Lamb's Ferry Eoad (which I could see winding 
its white length from the southwest limits of the 
town), and a graphic account of which has been 
furnished by Joshua Brown, a fellow scout, and 
which I will give as a true and accurate descrip- 
tion. 

As I stood on the same spot where he stood and 
looked across to the hill opposite me, his monu- 
ment, which has been erected by the untiring labor 
and devotion of the Daughters of the Confederacy 
of Pulaski and Giles County, gleamed upon my 
sight. In its white purity it seemed emblematic of 
his life and death, as it was silhouetted sharp and 
vehement, full-bodied and rich, against the wide 
horizon, infinitely clear from its background of 
blazing intensity of light from the setting sun, 
which was slowly and regally sinking to rest on his 
couch of gold in the purple west. 

This monument and many others which are be- 
ing built all over this fair Southland of ours are 
but fit testimonials from her loving women. And 



Historic Pulaski. 101 

the entire American nation is fast awakening to 
this same desire to show in this way their apprecia- 
tion of the valor and bravery of the men who wore 
the gray — the truest types of manhood and honor 
which walk the earth or sleep beneath her sod to- 
day. The sons and daughters of this generation are 
fast coming to a fuller realization of these facts, 
and are more and more filled with a determination 
to give just recognition from man to man for deeds 
of bravery done and hard-fought battles, whether 
lost or won. 

"And above the sad world's sobbing, 

And the strife of clan with clan, 
I can hear the mighty throbbing 

Of the heart of God in man. 
And a voice sounds through the chiming 

Of the bells, and seems to say: 
'We are climbing, we are climbing. 

As we circle on our way.' " 



SAM DAVIS : HIS CAPTURE, TRIAL, AND 
EXECUTION. 

BY JOSHUA BROWN. 

In the fall of 1863 we were ordered into Mid- 
dle Tennessee to report to Dr. Shaw, known as 
Captain Coleman. Dr. Shaw was the chief of 
the secret service of General Bragg's army, and 
created and commanded what was known as 
the Coleman Scouts. He ordered us to different 
duties in this part of the State. We were in- 
structed in those duties, and were to get all the in- 
formation we could as to the numbers and posi- 
tions of the Federal army. The country became 
so overrun with the Federal cavalry, the Six- 
teenth Corps of General Dodge's command, that it 
was dangerous for us to travel except at night, and 
he ordered us to separate and make our way 
south. The papers and information that had 
been collected from his many agents in the line, 
and from Nashville and other points, were col- 
lected into different packages and were intrusted 
to Sam Davis, who was considered the best scout, 
as he knew the country better and was more relia- 
ble than any other scout. To him was intrusted 
this responsibility. 
(103) .. 




SAM DAVIS MONUMENT 



Historic Pulaski. 103 

The night we were ordered to separate and go 
south we crossed the Tennessee River, and, if we 
succeeded, were to report to the Confederate au- 
thorities. Just as we started out that night we 
met a deserter, who led us into a trap, and we 
were captured by the Seventh Kansas Cavalry, 
known as Jayhawkers, on Agnew Creek, in Giles 
County, Tenn. Sam Davis was captured a little 
later farther out on or near the Lamb's Ferry Eoad. 
We were all brought in to Pulaski, and were put in 
the old Jail, on the corner of the Square, which has 
since been torn down. We were all searched and 
our saddle seats cut to pieces. The papers were 
found in Sam Davis's boots, and the maps of the 
fortifications at Nashville were found in his saddle 
seat. The next day he was taken to the headquar- 
ters of General Dodge and questioned in regard to 
it, but he refused to say anything. They then came 
and searched me again and took me to headquar- 
ters, but could find nothing on me. However, 
charges were preferred against me; but there was 
no proof, and I was later on sent to Eock Island 
Prison. Sam Davis was tried by a court-martial 
and condemned to be hanged the following Fri- 
day. We were captured, my recollection is, on 
the Friday before. The day that he was condemned 
was Thursday. We were ordered to get ready to 
leave the jail. Just before we left we were cook- 



104 Historic Pulaski. 

ing our breakfasts, and Sam Davis was brought 
handcuffed from his cell into our room to get his 
breakfast. I was cooking some meat on a stick 
as he came in, and I gave the meat with the 
hardtack to him, and had some conversation with 
him. I expressed sympathy and the hope that 
there was some chance for him, and he was taken 
back to his cell after bidding us good-by. We 
were ordered over to the courthouse under guard, 
where some other prisoners were. All the other 
prisoners confined in the jail were taken out and 
carried over across the street to the old courthouse. 
Sam Davis was alone in the jail, and they doubled 
their guard around him. The next morning early 
a regiment of infantry, with their drums beating 
a funeral march, and accompanied by an army 
wagon with a coffin, marched by. In a few min- 
utes he was taken out; he got up in the wagon 
and sat down on his coffin. Then he looked around 
the Square, saw us in the courthouse looking 
through a window, turned as he went by, stood up 
in his wagon, and saluted us a farewell, one of the 
most dramatic things I have ever seen in my life. 
There were tears in the eyes of all of us who wit- 
nessed that scene. Captain Shaw, standing there 
by me, said : ^'If Sam Davis tells, they will hang us 
all ; but Sam will never tell.^' He then remarked : 
"I am getting old and have not many years, and I 



HisTOKic Pulaski. 105 

would gladly give my life to save him, but it is 
impossible for me to do it." In about an hour 
afterwards tlie provost marshal who hanged Sam 
Davis returned to the courthouse, and with tears 
in his eyes informed us that Sam Davis was no 
more. Then he spoke of him, declaring that he 
would almost rather have died than to have exe- 
cuted such a noble boy. Then he told us what 
Sam Davis said — that he would have lost a thou- 
sand lives before he would betray his friends or his 
country. He then told us of how Sam Davis was 
offered his life and great rewards and an escort 
south of the Tennessee Eiver to tell, and how he 
refused. That same afternoon we were all ordered 
to get ready to be sent to prison, and some army 
wagons were brought up. We were put into these 
wagons, and were taken out eight or ten miles to- 
ward Columbia. Several of us made an attempt to 
escape that night, but did not succeed. The next 
day we were taken to Columbia, and were put in 
the old jail there for two days. Then we were 
ordered to prepare to march to Franklin, the 
terminus of the railroad at that time, and early 
the next morning we were ordered out. Our 
escort was a German regiment, the members of 
which could not speak English, and they were very 
cruel to us and threatened to bayonet us for not 
walking faster. 



106 Historic Pulaski. 

Captain Shaw (known as Dr. Shaw then) was 
very feeble, was distressed over Sam Davis's death, 
and was unable to walk very fast. He had his 
saddlebags, which I carried for him. His physical 
condition was very pitiful. Many writers on Sam 
Davis have condemned Captain Shaw for not tell- 
ing that he was the one who gave Sam Davis the 
papers, thinking that it would have saved Sam 
Davis's life. Captain Shaw would gladly have 
done that if it had been in his power, for I 
heard him say so ; but such a thing was impossible 
under the law, and he would simply have thrown 
away his own life and endangered the lives of all 
of us connected with him. When we arrived in 
Nashville, we were taken to the penitentiary, and 
in a few days we were sent, most of us, to Rock 
Island Prison. I remained there over a year, and 
escaped just before the end of the war by jumping 
from a train at night near Chicago, and in a few 
days made my way into Canada, crossing at De- 
troit, there joining some escaped Confederate 
prisoners. In a few weeks General Lee surren- 
dered. I did not go home until the following July, 
and was taken to the old Zollicoffer residence in 
Nashville, which was then the office of the provost 
marshal of the Federal army, where all Confeder- 
ate soldiers had to report to get their parole. I then 
went to my old home, at Clarksville, and in a few 



HisTomc Pulaski. 107 

months went into business at Nashville for a few 
years. Then I went to New York, where I have 
lived more or less ever since. I have always had 
a great desire to return to Pulaski and see the 
town and renew my friendship with the people 
who were so kind and sympathetic toward us in 
our great trouble. In 1912 I determined to go, 
and was anxious to see the beautiful monument 
erected by the people of Giles County to the mem- 
ory of Sam Davis, one of the greatest patriots 
known to history, who gave up his life for duty 
and principle, and whose deed should be known to 
the coming generations as an example for all boys. 
On June 17, 1912, I arrived in Pulaski for the 
first time in over forty years, and I cannot express 
to you the feeling that came over me as I viewed 
the scene of the long-past tragedy and recalled 
to mind the memory of those days that tried the 
souls of men who were an example to the coming 
generations. Wlien I stood in front of that beau- 
tiful statue of Sam Davis and looked upon it 
with awe and reverence, I was requested by some 
of the old citizens to have my picture taken by 
the side of the monument, being one of the few 
of the men living that were with Sam Davis and 
were tried for the same offense. 

I was deeply touched at the kindness and con- 
sideration which the people of Pulaski have shown 



108 Historic Pulaski. 

me, and I will always hold the memory of them 
dear; and it will be a source of pleasure to know 
that I was so kindly remembered by old friends 
and the people of Giles County. 



